• Making the Diagnosis

  Cancer is diagnosed with a number of tests but usually a biopsy is needed.  This is where a sample of the lesion/growth is sent to the laboratory to be examined under the microscope.  This can tell the doctors exactly what type of cancer is present and guides them to what… More

• Surgical Treatment

  Surgery is the oldest form of treatment for cancer. Surgery offers the greatest chance for cure for many types of cancer, especially those cancers that have not yet spread to other parts of the body.… More

• Radiotherapy

  Radiation therapy uses special equipment to deliver high doses of radiation (beam of x-rays) to cancerous tumours, to kill or damage them so they cannot grow or spread.   Normal cells may be affected by radiation, but most appear to recover fully from the effects of the treatment.… More

• Chemotherapy

  Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to kill or reduce the spread of cancer cells.  Chemotherapy is given as cycles and may be given once a day, once a week or even once a month.… More

• Alternative Treatments

  It is very common for people with cancer to want to try other non-medical treatments such as diet or alternative/complementary medicines offered by other practitioners.  It is helpful for your oncology team to know what other therapies you might be taking as sometimes there can be interactions with their treatment. More

www.southernhealth.nz/