Treatment Options
The highest quality care means the right treatments in the right order to give you the best chance for overcoming your cancer.
Your treatment plan may include all or some of the choices below. Your team will work together to design a plan that will give you the best chance to overcome your cancer. They will take your preferences and wishes into account and will adjust your plan if needed as you go through treatment.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to cure cancer, slow its growth, keep it from spreading or relieve some of the symptoms it causes. The drugs your team prescribes will depend on your cancer and your care plan.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses beams of high energy radiation to kill cancer cells. The radiation beams travel through the body along different paths, but all the paths go through the tumor, giving the tumor cells a higher radiation dose. Our team uses many different methods to get the most radiation to the tumor, while getting the least radiation that they can to normal tissues.
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Cancer Surgery
Your care team may suggest cancer surgery to remove part of the tumor to test it. They may suggest surgery to remove the tumor completely. You may choose to have reconstructive surgery after your cancer surgery.
Bone Marrow Transplant
The Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant program offers autologous stem cell transplants, most often for people with lymphoma and myeloma. These transplants allow you to get chemotherapy treatment that would otherwise be harmful to your bone marrow.
Theranostics
Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) is a new tool in our cancer-fighting arsenal that can quickly deliver effective treatment for cancers that can be difficult to diagnose or treat.
InPatient Team
If you need hospital care during your treatment, your doctor will admit you to the UNM Hospital, where a UNM Cancer Center Hematology or Medical Oncology attending physician will supervise your care. Our in-patient team works closely with your doctor at the UNM Cancer Center outpatient clinic to provide seamless care.
Cancer Genetic Assessment
Some cancers run in families. To learn if your cancer runs in your family, your care team may suggest a cancer genetic assessment. If cancer runs in your family, your team may adjust your treatment to deal with your cancer.
Cancer Survivorship Program
Cancer has physical, mental, emotional, social and financial effects that don't go away once your treatment has ended. At the UNM Cancer Center, we developed our Survivorship program to get you back to the things you love.
Clinical Trials
You may be able to try some of the newest cancer treatments with the greatest promise. The NCI and other leading cancer research institutions sponsor these treatments through clinical trials. The UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center offers more than 175 clinical trials.
About Clinical TrialsHelp During Treatment
During your cancer care, you may need assistance and support. Whether it's scheduling appointments, attending a support group, getting around in the building, or asking billing questions — our team has you covered.