Treatment Basics

Get oriented to how cancer is treated — the major approaches, what each involves, how side effects are handled, and how to prepare for appointments.

10 stepsAbout 57 min total

This learning path is educational only. It is not a treatment plan. Your healthcare team can help you understand what applies to your situation.

Your progress

Read7 min
Treatment overview
The big picture of how cancer is treated.
Open
Read6 min
Surgery for cancer
When and how surgery is used.
Open
Read6 min
Chemotherapy
How chemotherapy works and what to expect.
Open
Read6 min
Radiation therapy
How radiation is used to treat cancer.
Open
Read6 min
Immunotherapy
Treatments that use the immune system.
Open
Read6 min
Targeted therapy
Drugs aimed at specific cancer changes.
Open
Read6 min
Coping with side effects
How treatment side effects are managed.
Open
Quiz4 min
Check your understanding
A short quiz on treatment basics.
Open
Tool5 min
Questions to ask your team
Prepare questions before a treatment decision.
Open
Clinical trials5 min
Treatment clinical trials
How trials test new treatments.
Open