Information for the public

Treatment

Treatment

If tests and investigations have not found the primary cancer, when offering you treatment the CUP team should take into account a number of factors. They should consider where your secondary cancer is, whether you are likely to benefit from treatment, whether you are well enough to manage any side effects of the treatment and your personal preferences about treatment options.

If your secondary cancer is confined to one small area of the body, then you may be able to have more specialised treatment, such as surgery or radiotherapy. If this is the case you will be referred to a team which specialises in treating such tumours.

You may be offered treatment such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, or a combination of these to treat your secondary cancer. If you are offered chemotherapy, it may be possible for you to take part in a clinical trial if you want to.

Questions you might like to ask about treatment

  • Why have you decided to offer me this particular type of treatment?

  • If you find out where the primary cancer is, will my treatment change?

  • What will the treatment involve?

  • What effects might the treatment have on my symptoms and everyday life? What sort of improvements might I expect?

  • How effective is the treatment likely to be in the short and long term?

  • Are there any side effects or risks associated with this treatment?

  • Is there some written material (like a leaflet) about the treatment that I can have?

  • What if I choose not to continue treatment, or choose not to have any treatment?

  • Can I take part in a clinical trial?

  • Information Standard