Questions to ask about treatment
Listed below are some general questions that may be helpful when first talking about your treatment:
- Will I need to travel for treatment?
- What impact will being pregnant have on my treatment?
- Can I have a second opinion?
- Can I bring a friend/family member to my appointments?
- Do you mind if I record our discussion?
- Can you write down what you have told me?
Learn more
Surgery is a major part of treatment for many cancers, especially when the cancer is localised (i.e. has not spread).
Radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy) uses radiation to destroy cancer cells. Although radiation also damages normal cells, cancer cells are especially sensitive to its effects. This makes radiation therapy an effective treatment for many cancer types.
Chemotherapy, often called ‘chemo’, uses medicines to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is used on its own or in combination with other types of treatment. Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy to shrink a tumour before surgery, to destroy remaining cancer cells after surgery, or to improve symptoms and prolong life, where it is not possible to cure the cancer.
Hormones are naturally produced substances in the body that tell some cells and tissues how to behave and grow. Hormone therapy (also called endocrine therapy) aims to stop or slow the growth of certain types of cancer that use hormones to grow. These include breast, prostate, some gynaecological and thyroid cancers.
Targeted therapies are medicines that block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules, differing from standard chemotherapy by targeting specific molecular targets and attacking cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
Immunotherapy (sometimes called biological therapy) is a treatment that uses a person's immune system to treat certain cancers. The immune system is made up of a complex network of cells, chemicals, tissues and organs, that defends the body from infection. Immunotherapies work by helping the immune system attack cancer cells and slowing the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Stem cell transplant is also known as bone marrow transplant. This treatment may be recommended for people with blood cancers such as leukaemia, myeloma or lymphoma.
Complementary therapies can help manage the effects of cancer and its treatment, but should not replace standard medical care.
All cancer treatments carry risks of side effects, which can be managed through personalised treatment plans and support services.
Find out about practical considerations following a cancer diagnosis, including treatment planning, seeking second opinions, managing costs, travel arrangements, and essential questions to ask about treatment.
The cost of cancer treatment can vary depending on factors such as the type of treatment, whether it is public or private, and whether the individual has private health insurance.
People living outside major cities may be eligible for government-funded travel and accommodation assistance to access specialist cancer treatment.
Financial concerns and work after cancer are common issues for people undergoing treatment, with potential impacts on income and employment.
Find out what practical support is available during cancer treatment, including financial assistance, work arrangements, travel support, and access to care services.
A multidisciplinary team of health professionals will work together to provide expert care, regularly updating each other and involving you in decisions about your treatment.
When your doctor first tells you that you have cancer, it is very stressful and you may not remember much. You may want to see the doctor a few times before deciding on treatment.
Every patient has the right to participate in any decision about their health care or medical treatment. In general, health practitioners are required to inform you of the nature of the proposed treatment and to gain your consent for all treatment, before it starts.
You may want to get a second opinion from another specialist. Some people feel uncomfortable asking their doctor for a second opinion, but specialists are used to patients doing this.
Research is ongoing to find new ways to diagnose and treat a range of cancers. You may be invited to participant in a clinical trial to test new treatments.
Follow up can be used to check whether cancer treatment has worked, to identify if the cancer has come back (recurred), to manage side effects from treatment and monitor any long-term treatments. It also provides an opportunity for you to talk about how you’re feeling and to receive practical and emotional support.
Last updated 3 February 2025
