Surgery
Description: An operation to remove the cancer.
Potential side effects: Depend on many factors, including the size and location of the tumor, the type of operation, and the patient's general health.
Chemotherapy
Description: The use of drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.
Potential side effects:
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Mouth and lip sores
Hormone therapy
Description: Focuses on limiting hormones or controlling/removing hormone producing organs.
Potential side effects:
- Fatigue
- Fluid retention
- Weight gain
- Hot flashes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Changes in appetite
- In some cases, blood clots
Biological therapy
Description: Uses the body's immune system to fight disease and to lessen some of the side effects of cancer treatment.
Potential side effects:
- Flu-like symptoms: chills, fever, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Bleed or bruise easily
- Skin rash
- Swelling
Radiation therapy
Description: Targeted radiation used to kill cancer cells. Radiation can be given externally by a machine that aims radiation at the tumor area or given internally using needles, seeds, wires, or catheters.
Potential side effects: Depend on the part of the body being treated:
- Skin changes
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss in the treatment area
- Mouth problems
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sexual changes
- Swelling
- Trouble swallowing
- Urinary and bladder changes