How to use this guide
Cancer treatment is rarely one-size-fits-all. The goal of this guide is not to tell you what treatment you should choose, but to help you understand the categories of treatment that may come up in your care.
Surgery
Surgery may remove the primary tumor, help confirm stage, relieve symptoms, or lower the amount of disease before other treatment.
Ask whether surgery is intended to cure, control, or support comfort, and whether it should happen at a high-volume specialty center.
Chemotherapy and radiation
Chemotherapy and radiation can be used before surgery, after surgery, or for advanced disease. They may be combined or sequenced with other treatments.
Ask what side effects are most likely, what is temporary versus long-term, and when to call the care team.
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy
These treatments often depend on biomarkers, mutations, receptor status, or immune-related markers such as PD-L1.
Ask whether testing has identified a reason these options might fit your cancer specifically.
Hormonal therapy and maintenance treatment
Some cancers are treated with longer-term therapy after the most intensive treatment phase ends. This can reduce recurrence risk or help control advanced disease.
Ask how long treatment is expected to continue and what quality-of-life issues matter most over time.
Supportive and palliative care
Supportive care is not only for the end of life. It can help with pain, symptoms, nutrition, emotional distress, and treatment tolerance from the start.
Ask what supportive care, rehab, counseling, or nutrition services should begin early rather than later.
Related Gold Heart resources
Essential questions: What are my treatment options? What is the goal — cure, control, or comfort? What are the side effects? Should I consider a clinical trial? Bring a support person to take notes.
Clinical trials test new treatments and may offer access to cutting-edge therapies. Search by cancer type, location, and trial phase at cancer.gov. Ask your oncologist if a trial is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use the "Treatment Options Overview" guide?
This guide is designed to be printed and brought to your next medical appointment. Review the checklist items, mark the ones most relevant to your situation, and discuss them with your care team. All content is reviewed by medical sources and updated regularly.
Where can I get more help with treatment options overview?
Gold Heart's free resource directory connects you to 585+ verified cancer support programs across Washington State. You can also call the Cancer Support Helpline at 1-800-227-2345 or the NCI Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER for personalized guidance.