Chemotherapy: A Key Tool in the Fight Against Breast Cancer Recurrence
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. While early detection and treatment have improved survival rates, recurrence remains a major concern for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Chemotherapy has emerged as a key tool in the fight against breast cancer recurrence.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy refers to the use of drugs to kill or slow down the growth of cancer cells. These drugs can be given orally or intravenously (through an injection into a vein). They work by interfering with cell division, which is necessary for cancer cells to grow and spread.
How does chemotherapy help prevent breast cancer recurrence?
After surgery, radiation therapy, or both have been used to treat breast cancer, there may still be undetected cancer cells remaining in the body that can lead to recurrence. Chemotherapy kills these remaining cells before they can grow and cause problems.
Several studies have shown that adding chemotherapy after surgery improves overall survival rates for certain types of breast cancers. For example, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that adding chemotherapy after surgery reduced the risk of disease recurrence by 30% among women with hormone receptor-negative tumors.
Are there any side effects associated with chemotherapy?
While chemotherapy can be effective at killing cancer cells, it also affects healthy cells in your body that divide rapidly – such as those lining your mouth and digestive tract – leading to side effects like nausea, hair loss and fatigue.
However, advances over time mean doctors now have more ways than ever before to minimize these side effects while still providing effective treatment options. For instance:
– Anti-nausea medications are often prescribed alongside chemo.
– Patients may receive scalp cooling treatments during their chemo sessions; this reduces blood flow through vessels near hair follicles on your scalp so less chemo gets absorbed into them.
– Some newer forms of chemo are designed specifically not only to target cancer cells, but also to reduce side effects.
What does the future hold for chemotherapy?
While chemotherapy has been a cornerstone of breast cancer treatment for decades, researchers are constantly working on new ways to improve its effectiveness and minimize side effects. Some promising areas of research include:
– Personalized medicine: Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, doctors can use genetic testing to determine which drugs will be most effective for each individual patient.
– Immunotherapy: This involves harnessing your own immune system to fight cancer by identifying and attacking cancer cells.
– Targeted therapies: These drugs work by targeting specific proteins or genes that drive the growth of certain types of breast cancers.
In conclusion
Chemotherapy remains an important tool in the fight against breast cancer recurrence. While it can cause unpleasant side effects, advances over time mean these can be minimized while still providing effective treatment options. Furthermore, ongoing research holds promise for even more personalized and targeted treatments in the years ahead. For patients facing this difficult diagnosis – as well as their families and healthcare providers – there is hope that better outcomes lie just around the corner.
References:
1) National Cancer Institute (2020). Chemotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/chemotherapy
2) Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (2018). Adjuvant chemotherapy guided by a 21-gene expression assay in breast cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine, 379(2), 111-121.
3) American Society of Clinical Oncology (n.d.). Side Effects of Chemotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/chemotherapy/side-effects-chemotherapy
4) American Cancer Society (2021). Targeted Therapy Drugs Used To Treat Breast Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/targeted-therapy-for-breast-cancer.html
5) National Cancer Institute (2021). Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy
*Note: this site does not provide medical opinions or diagnosis and should not be relied upon instead of receiving medical attention from a licensed medical professional.
