Patient Education

At Houston Methodist we believe that you should have all the information relevant to your condition so you can make the best decision for your treatment and care.   In addition to the conversations you will have with the members of your health care team, you can find information about your cancer on these pages:


Types of Cancer
Click on the tumor types listed below to learn about screening, diagnosis and treatment information. There are many different subtypes within most of these categories, and if your particular cancer is not listed you may find more specific information when you click on the broader category. For example, if you have been told you may have a “glioma” you will find information by clicking on the “brain and pituitary” link.

 

 

Types of Cancer Treatment
At Houston Methodist, your oncology team is committed to offering you the most advanced cancer treatments available. You can learn about the general types of options for treating cancer by clicking here. We utilize both established treatment approaches as well as leading-edge procedures developed at Houston Methodist in order to develop a plan that provides the best outcome for you.  Some treatments, such as surgery and radiation, are designed to act in a highly localized fashion in order to eradicate the tumor while sparing normal tissue. Chemotherapeutic agents and some other drugs act systemically and are often used when the cancer is more widely disseminated or in combination with other treatments.


Early Detection and Prevention
Early detection is one of the most powerful weapons we have against cancer. Effective screening plays a valuable role and can dramatically increase the chance of finding some cancers while they are still treatable.  Houston Methodist can also help you understand which lifestyle habits may have an impact on your risk of developing certain types of cancers. 

 

High-Risk Cancer Programs
The high-risk program at Houston Methodist provides a comprehensive cancer risk assessment for breast cancer, gastrointestinal, as well as uterine and ovarian cancers. In addition to risk assessment, we offer education in nutrition, genetic counseling and, when appropriate, genetic testing. You can receive counseling on options for more intensive surveillance and additional risk reduction if appropriate for you.

 

Clinical Trials
Our continued commitment to research enables us to improve present and future cancer care through our cancer-related clinical trials.  If you are eligible, your physician or care team may speak to you about participating in a clinical trial.  If you decide to participate in one of our clinical studies, you become our partner in a mission to bring better treatments to patients around the world.