Treatment is when health care providers use medicine, therapy or surgery to help control a medical problem. The goal is to improve your symptoms and extend your life. Sometimes, this can lead to a cure. Cure means the health problem will not come back. For example, a cure for athlete’s foot is an excellent result of treatment with special creams or powders that kill the fungus that causes it.

Some health problems have no cure, but treatments can help manage them. For example, if you have type 1 diabetes, insulin will keep your blood sugar level in a normal range. However, it won’t stop the disease from progressing, so you will need to take insulin every day for the rest of your life.

A treatment program might use a combination of medicines or therapies, and it may include a patient support group or other sources of emotional support. Treatment may also include education and lifestyle changes.

The type and timing of your treatment will depend on your diagnosis, how far the cancer has spread and what your doctor thinks is best for you. Your doctor will explain your options and the risks and benefits of each.

If you’re interested in trying experimental or new treatments, ask your doctor about clinical trials. These are carefully controlled research studies that give people access to state-of-the-art cancer treatments before they become widely available. The American Cancer Society encourages you to talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of clinical trials.