MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Cancer treatment information

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Cancer treatment information

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names	Information

Alternative Names

Cancer warning signs

Information Return to top

The goals of cancer treatment are to:

Kill or remove cancer cells
Prevent or delay the cancer from coming back
Treat cancer symptoms (if the cancer can not be cured)

The types of treatment depend on the specific type of cancer, but may include:

Chemotherapy
Radiation
Surgery

You may receive more than one type of treatment. This is called combined therapy.

Cancer warning signs include:

A change in bowel or bladder habits
A sore that does not heal
Unusual bleeding or drainage
Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or swallowing difficulty
A change in a wart or mole
Persistent cough or hoarseness

It is important to note that these symptoms may also be due to conditions other than cancer.

The following articles offer more detailed information:

For information on cancer-related organizations, please see Cancer - support groups.

Update Date: 10/18/2008

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2009, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.