The goal of treatment is to destroy the cancer while doing as little harm as possible to normal tissue. Among the usual treatments are

surgery,
radiation therapy,
chemotherapy,
biological therapy (or immunotherapy)
bone marrow and
stem cell transplantation.

These treatment methods are sometimes used alone and sometimes in combination.

Yes and there was very encouraging news this week that cancer sufferers are in the case of some cancers living 6 times longer than they had done previously. Of course this is not true for every cancer but it is a very encouraging statistic nevertheless. The quality of life for sufferers of this cruel disease has certainly improved with pain killers and other palliative measures that can be taken.