Understanding Chemotherapy In Cancer Care
Cancer occurs when cells in the body begin to proliferate abnormally. There are various treatments available today, tailored to the type, spread, stage, and overall health of the patient. Among these treatments, chemotherapy is one of the most widely used methods for combating cancer.
This guide will explore the complications of chemotherapy, including how it works, its benefits, and what patients can expect during treatment.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer that uses powerful drugs to target and kill cancer cells. These drugs, often called anti-cancer or chemotherapeutic agents, can be given in several ways: you might take them as pills, receive them through injections, or have them administered via an IV drip. In some cases, they can even be applied directly to the skin.
Chemotherapy is best known for its flexibility. It can be used alone or alongside other treatments like surgery and radiation therapy as a combination therapy, making it a better approach to cancer treatment. Understanding how chemotherapy works is important for anyone going through a cancer diagnosis, as it plays an important role in the treatment process.
How exactly does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy works by producing systemic action (it travels throughout the bloodstream to reach all parts of the body). Chemotherapy works in the following ways.
1. Curing cancer completely: Chemotherapy may eliminate cancer cells, leading to a complete remission.
2. Preventing recurrence: Chemotherapy can also be used after the primary treatment to lower the chances of cancer returning, helping to keep patients cancer-free.
3. Inhibiting cancer growth: These drugs target rapidly dividing cells, effectively slowing down or stopping tumour growth.
4. Easing symptoms: Chemotherapy is not only used in curing cancer but also used in relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.
What are the goals of administering chemotherapy?
The goals of administering chemotherapy are:
- To cure/ prevent cancer from coming back (primary treatment): chemotherapy can be given to cure cancer completely and prevent its recurrence. This is known as Curative chemotherapy.
- Prior to other treatments: Chemotherapy can be given prior to other cancer treatments, like radiation therapy or surgery. The aim is to shrink the tumour. This is known as Neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
- After completion of other treatments: Chemotherapy can be given to get rid of the remaining cancer cells after treatment, like surgery or radiation therapy. This is known as Adjuvant chemotherapy.
- To reduce the speed with which the cancer is growing and ease its symptoms: In case cancer cannot be cured, chemotherapy can be used to improve the quality of life by reducing the cancer symptoms, slowing down the cancer progression, and preventing its spread.
How is chemotherapy administered?
Chemotherapy can be administered in various ways. They are:
- Injection chemotherapy: In this, the drugs are injected into the muscle (hip, stomach, thigh, or arm) or below the skin in the form of a shot.
- Intravenous chemotherapy (IV): In this, the medication is injected directly into the vein.
- Oral chemotherapy: In this type of treatment, the medication is given orally in the form of tablets, capsules, or pills.
- Topical chemotherapy: In this, the medication is applied directly onto the skin in the form of creams.
In some cases, cancer does not respond appropriately to systemic chemotherapy. In such cases, the chemotherapy is delivered directly into a specific cancer-affected area. Examples: intraperitoneal chemotherapy, Intra-arterial chemotherapy, Intra-arterial chemotherapy, and Intracranial chemotherapy.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Side effects are unwanted effects that are produced by medications. All medications have side effects. However, their occurrence and severity differ from person to person, and not everyone might experience them.
Chemotherapy destroys the growing cancer cells. However, sometimes it might also attack the healthy growing cells like the skin cells, hair follicles, digestive system, and bone marrow. This might give rise to side effects. Some commonly occurring side effects of chemotherapy are:
- Nausea, Vomiting
- Hair loss
- Fever
- Anaemia
- Bleeding
- Easy bruising
- Mouth sores
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Thin, weak nails
- Change in the colour of nails
- Infections
- Changes of skin
- Insomnia
Long-term side effects (developing later)
- Infertility
- Kidney issues
- Nerve damage
- Heart problems
- Lung damage
- Chances of development of second cancer
- Early menopause
Where do patients receive chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy might be given at:
- an outpatient unit for chemotherapy
- a doctor's clinic or office
- a hospital
- home (oral chemotherapy or chemotherapy at home by a healthcare professional)
What percentage of chemo patients survive?
In a study of chemotherapy patients, the overall survival (OS) rates indicated that 27% survived for 1 year, while 15.4% survived for 2 years, with a median overall survival rate of 7.63 months (95% CI 6.99-8.27). The mean follow-up time was 7.34 months, with a maximum of 41.77 months and a minimum of 0.2 months (6 days).
Patients who received chemotherapy demonstrated significantly better survival rates compared to those who did not. Specifically, the 1-year OS was 52% for the chemotherapy group versus 9.5% for the non-chemotherapy group, and the 2-year OS was 36.7% versus 1.5%. The median OS was 13.17 months for the chemotherapy group compared to 5.4 months for the non-chemotherapy group (p < 0.001). However, no significant differences in median survival were observed among three different chemotherapy regimens, with median OS ranging from 11 to 13 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you live a normal life on chemo?
Yes, you can live a normal life while undergoing chemotherapy. Many people continue with their daily activities, work, and social engagements during treatment. However, side effects may vary, so it’s important to manage them with your healthcare team and listen to your body’s needs.
2. How does chemo affect the body?
Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, affecting both cancer and healthy cells. This can cause fatigue, nausea, hair loss, a weakened immune system, mouth sores, digestive changes, and skin sensitivity. The specific effects depend on the type of chemotherapy and individual responses.
3. How long does chemo stay in the body?
Chemotherapy drugs typically stay in the body for a few hours to several days, depending on the specific drug, dosage, and metabolism. Most drugs are cleared from your system within a week, but some may take longer. Your healthcare team can provide more specific information based on your treatment plan.
4. Is chemo painful?
Chemotherapy is generally not painful, though some may feel discomfort during administration or experience pain from side effects like mouth sores and nausea. Your healthcare team can help manage any discomfort.
5. Can you fully recover from chemo?
Yes, many people fully recover from chemotherapy, though recovery varies by individual and treatment type. Your healthcare team can support you through the process.
Final thoughts
Chemotherapy is an effective treatment of cancer. Various factors must be taken into consideration prior to administering chemotherapy. The chemotherapy regime is fixed based on factors like the type and stage of cancer, the age and overall patient health, body weight, and other medical problems, or the previously used cancer treatments.
Besides its advantages in cancer treatment, chemotherapy produces side effects. However, these side effects can be taken care of with proper management measures. Certain measures like taking a healthy diet, mild physical activities, avoiding foods that can cause cancer, meditation, avoiding smoking, not consuming alcohol, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy weight, can help reduce the severity of side effects, enhance the treatment efficacy, prevent cancer recurrences and improve the overall quality of life.
"The potential within you is greater than the obstacles around you."
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564367/
- https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/chemotherapy
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10310991/
- https://medlineplus.gov/cancerchemotherapy.html
Note: The information provided in this blog is intended for general knowledge. It is important to remember that it should not replace professional medical advice. If you have any concerns about cancer or related symptoms, please consult a healthcare provider.
