There is no magic single pill cure for cancer. The genetics revolution may change treatments in 10 years' time: meanwhile, doctors and patients rely on four complementary methods of treatment: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Many patients receive more than one form.
Surgery can cure cancer completely, provided it is caught early. For example, 80 per cent of colorectal cancers are treated surgically.
Radiotherapy involves directing X-rays at the tumour. While it can potentially cure some cancers in general it is used as an adjunct to other therapies and is especially good at preventing the spread of secondary growths.
Hormone Therapy: If a tumour is hormone sensitive - such as some breast cancers - then using a drug which blocks the effect of the hormone will prevent recurrence. The breast cancer drug tamoxifen is probably the best known example.
Chemotherapy: Great advances have been made in the area of chemotherapy drugs in the last decade. The ability of the newer ones to kill off cancer cells and leave healthy cells alone is improving all the time. Newer combinations of chemotherapy are devised and it is now possible for patients in the Republic to join in the latest international cancer trials following a major recruitment of medical oncologists by all the health boards.