How many types of cancer treatment are there?

There are many types of cancer treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, the main types include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and stem cell (blood stem cell) transplants. Other types include hyperthermia, which heats body tissue to help kill cancer cells, and photodynamic therapy, which uses a drug activated by light.

Some people with cancer have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The types of treatment that you receive depend on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is.

Biomarker testing is one tool that may help you and your doctor choose a treatment. Because every cancer is different, your healthcare team can explain which options fit your specific situation and where to learn more about how your type of cancer is treated.