Treatment depends upon the size of the tumour, its position within the body, and whether it has spread. The treatment usually includes surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or a combination of these.
If at all possible, surgery will be used to remove the tumour. Chemotherapy using a combination of drugs is often given before surgery to shrink the tumour. Radiotherapy may be given to the area of the tumour if it cannot be completely removed by surgery. If the tumour cannot be removed with surgery the treatment will usually involve a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells and is usually given every three weeks. Sometimes, high doses of chemotherapy are used, followed by blood stem cell treatment (PBSC).
Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays, which destroy the cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells.