Experts provide insights into the various types of chemotherapy treatment and how they are administered.
When a cancer diagnosis is confirmed, different treatment options are considered, including various forms of chemotherapy.
Dr.
Frankie Jackson-Spence, a clinical research fellow of medical oncology at Barts Cancer Institute, explains that curative chemotherapy is used independently without additional interventions, while adjuvant chemotherapy is aimed at lowering the risk of cancer recurrence post-treatment.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is given before other interventions like surgery or radiotherapy to enhance the success rate of subsequent treatments.
Chemotherapy is typically administered to patients with potentially curable cancer either before or after surgery, depending on the situation.
This treatment approach is utilized in various cancer types such as colorectal and bladder cancers.
Chemotherapy, delivered intravenously, targets and destroys cancer cells to reduce tumor size, facilitating surgical procedures.
Different chemotherapy agents function in diverse ways, with the most common type disrupting cancer cell DNA to impede their growth.
In cases where cancer cells may have spread undetected, adjuvant chemotherapy is prescribed to prevent further dissemination.
Dr.
Mangesh Thorat, a consultant breast surgeon at Homerton University Hospital in London, notes that existing tests may not detect microscopic spread, leading to preemptive treatment to improve curative outcomes.
Chemotherapy's general side effects include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, sepsis, anemia, constipation, and diarrhea, according to Dr.
Shivan Sivakumar, an associate professor in oncology at the University of Birmingham.
Recovery from chemotherapy typically takes a few weeks, contingent on the patient's overall health status.
The duration and dosage of chemotherapy vary based on the cancer type, treatment response, and individual patient factors.
Dr.
Jackson-Spence emphasizes that the duration of chemotherapy depends on the cancer's stage.
Stage one cancer may require chemotherapy as a preparatory measure before surgery to enhance effectiveness.
In contrast, stage four cancer might entail more extensive chemotherapy cycles in cases where it is the sole treatment modality.
Treatment plans are tailored to individual patients, with adjustments made based on their response and overall health condition.