There are several types of cancer treatments. You may require one or a combination of treatments.
The kind of treatment you need depends on the kind of cancer you have and how advanced it is.
The goal of your treatment may be to:
- shrink the tumour;
- remove the tumour altogether;
- kill cancer cells that may have spread;
- reduce the chance that your cancer will come back; or
- help you deal with the symptoms caused by certain cancers.
Understanding these cancer treatments can help you talk about your choices with your health care team.
Clinics, Programs, and Services
Blood & Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Program
Offered at 1 location
Stem cell transplant, also called a bone marrow transplant, is used to treat some blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma). During stem cell transplants, high doses of chemotherapy (and sometimes radiation)...
Cancer-related surgery
Offered at 6 locations
Having an operation, or surgery, was the first treatment used for many types of cancer. It is still the most common way to treat many cancers. What are your questions...
CAR T-Cell Therapy
Offered at 1 location
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (or CAR) T-Cell Therapy is a new cancer immunotherapy that is delivered through Nova Scotia Cell Therapy and Transplant Program (CTTP). CAR T-Cell therapy involves separating specific...
Clinical Trials - Cancer
You can find information on cancer-related clinical trials at NovaStudies Connect.
Hematologic Oncology (Blood Cancers)
Offered at 2 locations
The Division of Hematology and Hematologic Oncology provides care for patients with disorders of the blood including blood cancers. The most common blood cancers are lymphoma (cancers of the lymph...
Radiation therapy
Offered at 2 locations
Radiation therapy is one of the main treatments for many kinds of cancer. The services provided within radiation oncology include radiation therapy (uses high doses of radiation to kill or...
Systemic Therapy
Systemic Therapy is any type of drug that spreads throughout the whole body to treat cancer. These drugs may be given intravenously (IV), by pill, or by injection. The type...
News and Stories
Emotional and practical support videos
Patient stories and perspective videos
General information videos
Treatments, tools and technique videos
Patient Education Resources
Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program
The Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program has a library of education resources that have been created with cancer patients, their families, and the public in mind. Links and QR codes to the patient education pamphlet library and the video library are provided.
A Cancer Patient Navigator May Help
Cancer Patient Navigators are oncology nurses who work with you and your family and your cancer care team throughout your treatment and follow up care. This pamphlet explains how a cancer patient navigator can help and how to contact a Cancer Patient Navigator.
On This Page
YourHealthNS App
Much of Nova Scotia's healthcare program and service information is now available on the YourHealthNS mobile app. Download for free on the Apple Store and Android Apps for Google Play.
