Treatment for cancer
Knowing more about how these drugs work, how you have them and their possible side effects can help you cope with treatment.
Find out about treatment for your cancer type
There are many cancer drugs and cancer drug combinations. Search for the one you are looking for to understand more about how it works, how you have it, the side effects and other important information.
You can have cancer drugs in different ways. For how long you have it will depend on the drug you have and your type of cancer. Always take your medicines safely.
Cancer drugs have side effects and these can vary from person to person. But there are things that you can do to help you cope.
Having a DPD deficiency could make the side effects of the chemotherapy drugs fluorouracil and capecitabine worse.
Aspirin might lower the risk of getting some cancers, cancer spreading or people dying from it. But we need to learn more from research that is currently ongoing.
COVID-19 is an infectious illness caused by a type of coronavirus. Some people with cancer are at a higher risk of complications because they have a weakened immune system.
A biosimilar medicine is a highly similar copy of an existing drug. Your doctor may suggest you have a biosimilar medicine.
Cancer or its treatment can lower your resistance to infection and make you more likely to catch flu. The flu vaccination makes it less likely that you will catch flu.
Your resistance to infection can sometimes be low if you have or have recently had some cancer treatments. There are some vaccinations you shouldn't have when you have low immunity because they could make you feel very ill.
Last reviewed: 02 Jul 2026
Next review due: 02 Jul 2029
This section is written, reviewed and updated by Cancer Research UK’s Patient Information Web Team. Thanks to the expert cancer pharmacists.
Amrit Atwal, Clinical trials and ChemoCare Pharmacist, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Lucy Cox, Oncology and Medicines at Home Pharmacist, Velindre Cancer Centre
Elizabeth Davies, Consultant Pharmacist Adult Haematology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Alia Nizam, Specialist Oncology Pharmacist, Cancer Research UK information lead
Jo Parkes, Pharmacy Clinical Lead – Cancer Services, Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust
Poonam Patel, Deputy Lead Haematology and Oncology Pharmacist – Private Care, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London
Michal Sladkowski, Advanced Oncology Pharmacist at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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