The aim of treatment for advanced cancer is to control the cancer for as long as possible.
This might mean shrinking the size of the cancer or slowing its growth for a while. In some cases, this may be for months or years.
If treatment is no longer controlling the cancer, the aim may be to help relieve the physical and emotional symptoms of cancer.
Your doctor will discuss your options and involve you in decisions about the best treatment for your situation. This is called shared decision-making.
Learn more about:
- Overview
- Making treatment decisions
- When treatment seems too much
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Complementary and alternative therapies
- Your healthcare team
- Palliative care
- Rehabilitation
Overview
New treatments may become available, so if your current treatment stops working or it’s hard to cope with side effects, ask your doctor what else you can try or if you’re eligible for a clinical trial.
Treatment choices for advanced cancer will depend on where the cancer started and how much it has spread.
Usually cancer that has spread needs systemic treatment. This means treatment is taken by mouth (orally) or injected into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Examples include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy.
Treatment that affects only a certain part of the body may also be used to control the cancer or to relieve symptoms. Examples include surgery and radiation therapy.
Often these treatments will be discussed with a range of health professionals at what is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. You are likely to see a number of health professionals who specialise in different aspects of your care.
→ READ MORE: Making treatment decisions for advanced cancer
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All updated content has been clinically reviewed by Dr Lucy Gately, Medical Oncologist, Alfred Health and Walter and Eliza Institute for Medical Research, VIC and Penny Neller, Project Manager, End of Life Law for Clinicians, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD. This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: Dr Lucy Gately (see above); Dr Katherine Allsopp, Supportive and Palliative Care Specialist, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Prof Megan Best, The University of Notre Dame Australia and The University of Sydney, NSW; Dr Keiron Bradley, Palliative Care Consultant, Medical Director Palliative Care Program, Bethesda Health Care, WA; Craig Brewer, Consumer; Emeritus Professor Phyllis Butow, Psychologist, The University of Sydney and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Louise Durham, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Outpatients, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Palliative Care, QLD; Dr Roya Merie, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Concord, NSW; Penny Neller (see above); Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Xanthe Sansome, Program Director, Advance Care Planning Australia, VIC; Sparke Helmore Lawyers; Peter Spolc, Consumer.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
