Oncology is a broad term to describe the treatment of cancer, and is most often used to mean the non-surgical treatment of malignancy.
These non surgical treatments include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone drugs, targeted drugs and supportive medications. These cancer treatments can be used individually as sole treatments, follow one another in a series of treatments, or be used together at the same time. They can also be used as the first treatment, after surgery or when a cancer has relapsed.
They can be used with the aim of trying to cure a cancer, or if incurable, controlling the cancer for as long as possible and helping to relieve symptoms caused by the cancer. How they are actually used will depend on the type of tumour, its stage and the patients medical history and wishes.
This programme details how technologically advanced medical innovations are helping in the treatment of patients with cancer.