Cancer of unknown primary (CUP)

Treatment

How is cancer of unknown primary (CUP) treated?

You may be disappointed that the primary cancer cannot be found, however there are still treatment options open to you. 

Your treatment will depend on a number of things including:

  • Where in the body your secondary cancer is located
  • Where in the body your primary cancer is suspected of starting
  • Test results
  • Your general health 

You may have more than one type of treatment. These can include:

This is the most common treatment for CUP. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or control the growth of cancer cells.

Read more about chemotherapy.

This is the use of high-energy rays to kill the cancer cells. 

Read more about radiotherapy.

Hormones are chemical substances made by glands in the body. They have a huge role to play in how the body works, affecting things like growth, metabolism, sexual function, reproduction and mood.

Some cancers are what is known as hormone sensitive or hormone dependent. This means they use hormones to grow or develop. Hormone therapy works by blocking or lowering the amount of certain hormones in the body, with the aim of stopping or slowing down the growth of cancer.

Immunotherapy treatment helps your immune system to work better to fight cancer cells.

Read more about immunotherapy.

Targeted drug therapies target certain parts of cancer cells that make them different from normal cells. They can help stop cancer from spreading, slow its growth or destroy cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. 

Read more about targeted therapies.

Surgery involves making a cut in your body to remove tissue. For example, to remove a tumour. Surgery is more often used to treat cancer found at an early stage. Because CUP has already spread, surgery may not be the best treatment. However, it may be used in some cases. For example, if the secondary tumour can be easily removed.

Will I get side-effects?

The type of side-effects you get will depend on the type of treatment, the dose, the duration and your own general health.

Your doctor or nurse will discuss any possible side-effects with you before your treatment. Read about the different treatments to find out more about possible side-effects. 

You can also read our section coping with side-effects and symptoms for more information and advice.

CUP patient booklet

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP)
Cancer of unknown primary (CUP)
Booklet 65 pages 8.74 MB
Information for patients diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary (CUP), including tests, treatments and side-effects, and how to cope.

We're here to help

Our range of free services are here for you

Our Daffodil Centres
Our Daffodil Centres in 13 hospitals nationwide are staffed by Cancer Nurses and trained volunteers who provide face-to-face advice, support and information for anyone affected by cancer
Patient Education
Our free patient education group sessions and video resources provide information to guide you through and beyond cancer treatment.
Transport Service
We provide transport and limited financial grants (Travel2Care) for those in need who are in cancer treatment.
Eating well and exercise support
Eating well and exercise can help you feel better before, during and after cancer treatment. We can provide information and support on maintaining a healthy diet and being physically active.

Get help & support

Support Line

Support Line

Our Cancer Nurses offer confidential advice, support and information for anyone affected by cancer. Call or email supportline@irishcancer.ie. Video calls available. Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Support Line
Free support pack

Free support pack

Receive our free cancer support pack. You will find a number of items ranging from cancer information booklets to services guides to items to help you navigate the experience.
Free support pack