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Therapies

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a systemic cancer treatment, meaning the drugs travel throughout the body to kill cancer cells that may have spread from the original tumor.

How does Chemotherapy work?

  1. Administration: Chemotherapy drugs are administered in various ways, most commonly through an intravenous (IV) line, but also orally (pills), topically (creams), or as injections.
  2. Cell Cycle Disruption: The drugs interfere with the cell division process, preventing cancer cells from multiplying. They can target different phases of the cell cycle, leading to cell death.
  3. Systemic Action: Because the drugs circulate throughout the bloodstream, they can reach and destroy cancer cells in almost any part of the body.
  4. Combination Therapy: Often, a combination of different chemotherapy drugs is used to target cancer cells at various stages of their growth cycle and to reduce drug resistance.

Target Cancers

Chemotherapy is used to treat a wide range of cancers, including:

  • Solid tumors: Breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer.
  • Hematologic cancers: Leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
  • Other cancers: Testicular cancer, bladder cancer, and sarcomas.

Benefits

Shrinking Tumors: Can reduce the size of tumors before surgery or radiation therapy.

Curing Cancer: Can eliminate cancer cells completely, leading to a cure for some types of cancer.

Symptom Relief: Can help manage cancer-related symptoms, such as pain.

Preventing Recurrence: Used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and prevent the cancer from returning.

Types of Chemotherapy

Adjuvant Chemotherapy

  • Description: Given after the primary treatment (like surgery) to destroy any remaining cancer cells

  • Common Uses: Breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer

  • Side Effects: Fatigue, hair loss, nausea

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

  • Description: Given before the main treatment to shrink a tumor, making it easier to remove with surgery or radiation

  • Common Uses: Breast cancer, head and neck cancer

  • Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, nerve damage

Palliative Chemotherapy

  • Description: Used to relieve symptoms and improve a patient’s quality of life when a cure is not possible

  • Common Uses: Advanced cancers

  • Side Effects: Fatigue, loss of appetite, mouth sores

Combination Chemotherapy

  • Description: Uses two or more drugs at the same time to increase effectiveness and reduce the likelihood of drug resistance

  • Common Uses: Lymphoma, leukemia

  • Side Effects: Side effects may be more pronounced

The Chemotherapy Process

Before Therapy

Patients undergo tests to ensure they are healthy enough for treatment. Doctors create a personalized treatment plan.

During Therapy

Treatment is often given in cycles, with a period of treatment followed by a period of rest to allow the body to recover.

After Therapy

Regular follow-up appointments are crucial to monitor recovery and check for any side effects or recurrence.

How is Chemotherapy different?

  • Systemic Treatment: Unlike localized treatments like surgery or radiation, chemo affects the whole body.
  • Broad Applicability: It can treat many different types of cancer.
  • Combination Therapy: Often used with other treatments to maximize effectiveness.
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