Cancer treatments

At Aurora Health Care, your doctors make thoughtful recommendations about your cancer treatment options in order to design a personalized care plan for you. They will answer your questions to help you understand any potential side effects you may have and how your treatment will affect your immune system.

While some people may just need one type of cancer treatment, most undergo a combination of therapies. Your team tailors recommendations for you based on your:

• Specific cancer diagnosis, including your tumor’s size and stage
• Age, immune system and overall health
• Likelihood to experience side effects
• Treatment goals and preferences for your cancer care

Download a copy of Mind, Body, Spirit [PDF], our free treatment guide for cancer patients.

What are common treatment options for cancer?

• Ablation: These minimally invasive procedures can destroy some tumors by using heat, cold or electric current. You have access to a range of options, including NanoKnife, a newer treatment for liver cancer and pancreatic cancer. Learn more about cancer ablation.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a frequent tool in cancer care and a common colorectal cancer treatment. At Aurora, you have access to the latest drugs and drug combinations. One technique, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), provides direct, concentrated treatment for abdominal cancers that's provided during surgery. Learn more about chemotherapy.
• Hormone therapy: The growth of some cancers depends on your body’s hormones. Certain medications block the production or use of hormones to stop or slow cancer or prevent it from returning. Learn more about breast cancer and prostate cancer treatment.
• Immunotherapy: Using the body’s own immune system, immunotherapy helps the immune system better locate and destroy cancer cells. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with other cancer treatments. Learn more about immunotherapy.
• Radiation therapy: You will find the latest techniques, including options to safely speed up treatments for cancer or more precisely target cancer. One tool, CyberKnife radiosurgery, achieves both goals. It can also help you avoid surgery for some cancers. Aurora was the first Wisconsin program to use CyberKnife, giving us the most experience in the state. Learn more about radiation therapy.
• Stem cell transplants: For blood cancers, your team may collect some of your stem cells before high-dose chemotherapy. Doctors then reinject the stem cells so they can form new blood cells. Learn more about autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).
• Surgery: When you need surgery, you may have the option to have a minimally invasive procedure, including surgeries with robotic assistance. Aurora surgeons specialize in minimally invasive approaches. Surgery is a common choice for prostate cancer treatments. Learn more about cancer surgery.
• Targeted therapy: Newer medications focus on specific cancer cell targets to stop cancers from growing or spreading. Unlike chemotherapy, these drugs largely avoid healthy cells.

Explore new treatment options for cancer care

You can try new cancer treatment options before they become widely available through the Advocate Aurora Research Institute. The studies include a range of treatments for cancer care, including sequencing tumors to help identify targeted therapy.

You can also participate in clinical trials closer to home, thanks to a federal grant that brings clinical trial access to all Aurora cancer clinics. All Aurora oncologists can enroll you in a trial, making the process even easier.

Search clinical trials.

Personalized care plans, specialized doctors & comprehensive cancer treatment

You can feel confident you’re receiving the cancer treatment and therapy you need at Aurora, provided by one of Wisconsin’s most experienced teams. You will find:

• Latest cancer treatments: Our team of medical experts is committed to adopting innovations that improve cancer care, like precision medicine which provides new hope for patients with metastasized, stage 4 cancers.
• Expertise: Many of the 160-plus cancer doctors at Aurora specialize in a particular cancer or group of related cancers. These specialists have developed deep expertise in the type of cancer you need help with, and they use the latest research to select treatments for cancer specific to your needs. Learn more about your cancer team, or find a doctor.
• Team approach: The various specialists you need pool their expertise, so you receive a comprehensive cancer treatment plan as soon as possible. Team members from multiple disciplines meet together to discuss most cases in our tumor boards. For many cancers, you can complete post-diagnosis evaluation and treatment planning in one day, avoiding repeat visits.
• Coordination: All Aurora cancer clinics use shared electronic medical records, so all your Aurora providers have access to your current information.
• Consistency: Your team follows cancer treatment guidelines developed by Via Oncology, a collaborative group that includes other top national programs. The guidelines are based on the best available evidence.
• Convenience: With 19 cancer clinics across eastern Wisconsin, you'll find more cancer treatment options closer to home. This accessibility relieves the burden of travel and lets you remain near your support network of family and friends.

Follow cancer news

Get the latest updates on treatments for cancer when you read the Aurora Connection newsletter.