It is important to understand your cancer diagnosis and your treatment options. Talk with your oncologist and learn what to expect during treatment.

Oncologists look at possible benefits, side effects, and your overall health when recommending treatment. Older adults may process drugs differently or have other health conditions that affect recovery. A comprehensive geriatric assessment can help decide which treatments are safe, effective, and match your goals.

Choosing a treatment depends on your oncologist’s advice and your own goals and priorities. Get a second opinion if you are unsure about your treatment decision.

Cancer treatments used to remove or kill cancer cells 

• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted or immune therapy

Surgery

If a cancer tumor is found early and has not spread, surgery can often cure it. A cure is more likely with early-stage skin, lung, breast, kidney, and colon cancer.

Sometimes cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, so those may also be removed.

Sometimes another treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation, is used to shrink the tumor before surgery.

Older adults may stay in the hospital longer, heal more slowly, and face a higher risk of problems after surgery because of other health conditions. A thorough pre-surgery evaluation is especially important.

Radiation

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. It is generally safe and effective for older adults.

Radiation is given on a regular schedule and usually takes only a few minutes per session. While radiation itself is painless, possible side effects after treatment include:

• Skin irritation or sensitivity over the treatment area. Moisturizers or other creams can help.
• Tiredness

Side effects often go away after a short time.

For some cancers, such as prostate cancer or thyroid cancer, radioactive particles or substances can be placed directly into or near the tumor.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Many chemotherapy treatments are safe for older adults, but:

• Older adults may clear drugs from the body more slowly
• Lower doses or different schedules may be recommended
• There is a higher risk of organ damage and other treatment-related problems

The choice of chemotherapy depends on the cancer, its stage, and the person’s overall health. These drugs are taken by mouth or given through a vein (IV).

Chemotherapy can also harm healthy cells, including those in the bone marrow, the lining of the digestive tract, and hair follicles. This may cause temporary side effects that can be managed, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood cell counts, higher infection risk, and hair loss.

Chemotherapy drugs often weaken the immune system. So people need to:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Get plenty of rest
• Wash hands often
• Avoid contact with anyone who has a contagious illness, such as a cold or flu

Hormone Therapy

Hormone treatment is often used to lower the risk of cancer coming back after surgery, or to slow cancer growth if it has returned or spread.

Hormone-like drugs are usually taken as a daily pill. They work well against certain cancers, including cancers of the breast, prostate, or lining of the uterus (endometrium).

Hormone treatment can be used as the main treatment or along with other therapies.

Immune Therapies (immunotherapy or biological therapy)

Immune therapy uses a person’s own immune system to fight cancer. Immune therapies are usually used along with or after other treatments.

Prognosis: Long-term Health Outlook

Some cancers can be cured or controlled for many years, allowing people to live a good quality of life. Others may not respond well to treatment and may progress quickly.

A person’s long-term health depends on the:

• Type of cancer
• Stage of the cancer (how much it has spread)
• Treatment options and how well the treatment works
• Overall health and other medical conditions
• Ability to function and age at diagnosis

Last Reviewed and Updated: October 2026 
By: AGS/HiAF Public Education Committee, HealthinAging.org Content Reviewers