Your Treatment
Many types of health care worker are involved in providing assessment and treatment for people with cancer. These may include doctors such as surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, specialist physicians, geneticists and general practitioners, and a vast array of allied health providers including nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, exercise physiologists, speech therapists, radiation therapists and home visiting services including Silver Chain. Dr Clay works in collaboration with people from these fields as part of your treatment team.
Medical Oncologists specialise in the use of medicines in the treatment of cancer. In each patient the treatment may have a different aim, which may be:
- Shrinking a cancer before an operation
- Preventing a cancer from coming back after it has been removed
- In combination with other treatments such as radiotherapy
- Managing or controlling an advanced cancer when surgery is not possible
The treatment you are prescribed will be based on the best available scientific evidence, together with an assessment of your fitness and other medical conditions, a discussion around potential side effects, and in accordance with your wishes. The aim of any treatment is to maximise survival, maintain or improve quality of life and prevent or minimise any possible side effects. Dr Clay is very happy to involve people who are important to you (such as your family or friends) in your decision making process if you wish.
The possible treatments you may be offered include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy.
The National Cancer Institute in the USA provides detail information for patients including:
Further information can be found on the Resources For Patients page.