Cancer Treatment Options: Making a Decision

As you make a treatment decision, you want to be confident in your treatment plan. There are several things to consider in the coming weeks, and these resources should help.

More on this topic

  • Frontiers of Oncology: Precision Medicine and Immunotherapy
    Author: Lucy Maher
    Death rates from cancer are declining, in part due to treatment advances, including the use of precision medicine. These therapies are tailored to the individual patient and based on a genetic understanding of the type of cancer being attacked. This article discusses precision medicine and the current and future treatments that may change the course of cancer treatment.
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  • Managing Different Opinions
    Author: Sarah Handzel
    You may wonder if you should seek a second opinion about your cancer diagnosis and treatment options. Second opinions may confirm your diagnosis and provide invaluable information about your cancer and where it’s located in your body.
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  • Informed Decision Making in Cancer Care: More Myth Than Reality
    Source: CancerCare
    A recent survey revealed that people with cancer wanted more information about how their treatment would impact their work, finances, or need for care. Read about how you can partner with your healthcare team to make sure you get this information before making a decision.
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  • Cancer Treatment: Develop a Treatment Plan
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    To help you understand your care, you may want to ask your doctor or your oncology nurse to develop a written cancer treatment plan.
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  • Making a Cancer Treatment Decision That Is Right for You
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    Sometimes it is hard to know what questions to ask the doctor. One proven strategy for getting the most out of your visit is to be as prepared as possible.
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Additional Links

  • NCCN Guidelines for Patients®
    Source: National Comprehensive Cancer Network
    A step-by-step guide from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® to help you talk to your physicians about the best treatment options.
  • Treatment Decision Counseling Program: Open to Options®
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    The Cancer Support Community has a decision support counseling program called Open to Options® that can help you prepare for an appointment in which you will be making a treatment decision.
  • Treatments and Side Effects
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    Download a guide to help you understand more about cancer treatments, important questions for your doctor, and tips about managing common side effects.
  • Making Treatment Decisions
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    This downloadable brochure focuses on simplifying the process of making decisions about cancer treatment.
  • Stem Cell Transplant
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    Learn more from the NCI about stem cell transplants for cancer, including the different types of stem cell transplants, how they work, who receives them, side effects, and more.
  • Targeted Therapy
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    Learn more from the NCI about targeted cancer therapies, including the different types of targeted therapies, how they work, side effects, drawbacks, and more.
  • A-to-Z List of Cancer Drugs
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    If you know the name of your potential cancer treatment, use this list of treatments from the NCI to get more information.
  • Immunotherapy
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    Learn more from the NCI about cancer immunotherapies, including the different types of immunotherapies, how they work, side effects, and more.
  • Chemotherapy
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    Learn more from the NCI about chemotherapy, including how chemotherapy works, how it is used with other cancer therapies, side effects, and more.
  • Radiation Therapy
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    Learn more from the NCI about cancer radiation therapy, including the different types of radiation therapy, side effects, how it works, and more.
  • Types of Treatment
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    The types of cancer treatment that you receive will depend on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. Learn more from the NCI.
  • Plasma Cell Neoplasms (Including Multiple Myeloma): Treatment Option Overview
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    Explanation from the NCI on the treatment approaches available for people with multiple myeloma, supportive care, and new types of treatment being tested in clinical trials.

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