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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more|.
Find out how we produce our information|
The aims of cancer treatment| are either to cure the cancer, or to control the disease and slow down its progress. It’s often unclear at the time of diagnosis whether a cure will be possible.
If your doctors think that it may be possible to cure the cancer, they will recommend the most effective treatments. However, in some people a cure isn’t possible. In this situation it’s more important to choose treatments that will control symptoms, while causing fewer side effects.
Many cancer treatments are tolerated well by older people. Although your age will be considered by your doctors when deciding which treatment is the most suitable for you, other factors such as your general health are more important. Your age shouldn’t stop you from being offered many of the available treatments.
Some types of cancer treatment, particularly some chemotherapy| drugs, are effective in younger people but seem to work less well in people who are older. So you may not be offered a treatment because it is unlikely to be helpful, and not because you are too old.
Surgery| can be an important part of cancer treatment. The aim of surgery is to remove all, or part, of the tumour. With careful assessment before an operation, expert anaesthetic care during the operation, and good nursing care after surgery, older people can benefit from even very extensive surgery. It’s important that the surgeon knows about any other medical conditions you may have as these may affect whether an operation is possible. Some operations carry a high risk at any age and this will need to be balanced carefully against the possible benefits of the surgery.
Sometimes other treatment such as hormonal therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy can give similar long-term benefits, while avoiding the risks of an operation.
Radiotherapy| treats cancer by using high-energy x-rays to destroy the cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells. It is the best type of treatment for some cancers and is sometimes used with surgery or other treatments. Radiotherapy may also be used if you are too frail to have an operation or chemotherapy. Studies have shown that most people who are reasonably fit are able to cope well with radiotherapy. The side effects of the treatment will depend on the area of the body that is being treated.
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy the cancer cells. The drugs are often given as a liquid through a drip, so that they circulate in the bloodstream and reach cancer cells wherever they are in the body. They can also be taken as tablets or capsules. Some types of skin cancer| may be treated with chemotherapy creams.
It’s important to tell your doctors about any other health problems and medications you’re taking before they choose your chemotherapy. Some chemotherapy drugs can temporarily affect the normal working of the heart, liver, kidneys or lungs. And some chemotherapy drugs shouldn’t be given at the same time as certain medicines for heart, kidney and lung disease.
Chemotherapy can cause side effects|; however most of these can be prevented or greatly reduced. It can temporarily stop the bone marrow from making new blood cells, which can lead to bleeding problems, infections| or anaemia. You may need to take antibiotics to treat an infection, or have a blood transfusion if you are anaemic. Your doctors will make sure you have regular blood tests between courses of treatment to check its effects.
Other possible side effects include feeling sick (nausea)|, a sore mouth|, diarrhoea or constipation, and hair loss|. Medicines can be given to control most of these side effects and many older people tolerate chemotherapy very well. Any side effects will gradually disappear once the treatment has finished.
Hormonal therapies are drugs that can stop or slow the growth of cancer cells by either altering the level of particular hormones in the body, or preventing the hormones from being taken up by the cancer cells. They are used to treat certain types of hormone sensitive cancer, such as prostate| or breast cancer|.
Hormonal therapies are often given for several years. They can cause side effects such as weight gain, hot flushes and sweats, tiredness| and a lowered sex drive.
We have more information about hormonal therapies| which you might find useful.
Biological therapies are substances that occur naturally in the body to destroy cancer cells. They are sometimes called targeted therapies because they target specific proteins in the cancer cell. There are several types including monoclonal antibodies and cancer growth inhibitors. Biological therapies are often given in combination with chemotherapy.
Monoclonal antibodies are drugs that attach themselves to particular proteins on the surface of cancer cells. They then disrupt the way the cells divide and grow. Monoclonal antibodies tend to cause few side effects but these can include a poor appetite, flu-like symptoms and tiredness|.
In order to grow and divide, cancer cells ‘communicate’ with each other using chemical signals. Cancer growth inhibitors interfere with this process and so affect the cancer’s ability to develop. Side effects are usually mild to moderate, and can include sickness (nausea)|, rashes, aches and pains.
We have more information about biological therapies| which you might find useful.
Some cancers grow very slowly and may never cause any problems within a person’s lifetime. In this situation the doctors may feel that it’s better not to give any treatment, as this may cause side effects which would reduce the person’s quality of life. However, the doctors will still monitor the person very closely, usually by seeing them every few months to assess their condition. They will also do blood tests and scans, if necessary.
If the cancer begins to develop, the doctors will detect this early and offer appropriate treatment at that time. Some people find it difficult not to have treatment when they know that a cancer is there. It’s important to discuss the situation fully with your doctor so that you understand why no treatment is being given.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.