Understanding the Role of Chemotherapy

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 30 June 2014

Image of a chemo ward with text overlay on blue strip Role of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can have different roles in treatment of cancer. It is important to understand the role of the chemotherapy prescribed for the patient. Dr. Kriti Mittal MD, MS Hematology and Medical Oncology explains the roles - curative, non-curative, palliative and adjuvant.

It is important to understand the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of your cancer. In some cases of localized or locally advanced cancer that has not yet spread to distant organs, your health care provider may chose to give chemotherapy after surgical removal of the cancerous tissue. In such cases, if the chemotherapy is given with the sole intention of reducing the risk of recurrence of cancer, it is referred to as Adjuvant chemotherapy. This refers to situations in which cancer has not yet metastasized and surgery is considered a curative procedure. Administration of adjuvant chemotherapy is usually based on data from clinical trials that suggest an improvement in overall survival, progression- free survival or disease free survival, etc. compared to patients who don't get adjuvant chemotherapy; but this is specific to each type of cancer and does not hold true for all cancer types.

In cases of advanced or metastatic cancer, chemotherapy is given to help slow down or shrink the size of tumors and help patients live longer, but in most cases cannot make all the cancer cells disappear. Such treatment is usually non curative, and may also be referred to as palliative. Again, it is important to discuss goals of treatment with your provider. In some slow growing cancers, even in advanced cases, patients can have long term survival with treatment. While in other cases, despite non curative chemotherapy, survival could be limited. Communication is key to understanding your treatment choices, their risks and benefits.

In some cases, such as advanced testicular cancer, chemotherapy may be given with curative intent even in the metastatic setting. Hence the intention of treatment- adjuvant, curative, non curative, should be discussed with your provider.

Stories

Cancer Survival Predictors and Importance of Screening

"Early stage diagnosis and Screening affect survival rates in top 3 cancers" Preet K. Dhillon, PhD, MPH, Epidemiologist, Senior Scientific Officer, Public Health Foundation of India in her interview with PatientsEngage Which cancers are easy to detect at an early stage ? What is their contribution to the total number of cancer malignancies? At what rate is this growing? Of the most commonly occurring cancers in India, breast, cervix, oral and colorectal cancers are amenable…
How to be a Cancer Thriver Video

While the global cancer statistics are deadly and chilling, it is easy to forget that the thousands of people around the world, who have not only 'survived' but actually become 'cancer-thrivers'. These rare folks have turned a traumatic experience into a springboard for their personal growth. Their stories are not only remarkable, but also remarkably similar, as Vijay Bhat (a Mumbai-based thriver and author of "My Cancer Is Me") shares in this video. Vijay's insights are based on his own…
Throat cancer patients can get back their voice for Rs. 50

Head and neck cancer specialist Dr. Vishal Rao has recently invented the Aum Voice Prosthesis is to help throat cancer patients speak and eat properly after surgery. The device, especially pioneered for the poor, costs only INR 50 (<1 USD). An interview with Dr. Vishal Rao: Tell us about your brain child – Aum? The realization of not being able to speak, first dawned on me, when I had a throat cancer patient from a village visit my clinic. He had already been …
Palliative care in Kerala - lessons and answers

With a palliative care policy formulated in 2008, Kerala has become a path-breaker and a model for the rest of the country. Professor Devi Vijay of IIM Calcutta provides some insights into this community-based aspect of health care. 1. What can the rest of the country learn from the success of the Kerala palliative care story?How can other countries and communities leverage this community-based model? There are several elements of the Kerala palliative care movement worth examining…
Care for the Caregiver

Maya Ramachandran shares her experience as a caregiver to her parents and the learnings she drew from this. Caregiving is soul-satisfying, meaningful, draining and frustrating all at the same time. I had been a caregiver for my father for almost 16 years. My mother took charge from the forefront and I was with her, supporting her to the best of my ability through this period. However, for the last two years of my father’s life, I took on the role of ‘primary caregiver’, as my mother…
CANCER: A friend who warns or a foe with thorns!

A poem by Rita Banik, Founder, RACE to rein-in-cancer The never uttered word CANCER The word that fills our heart with grief Turns our feet cold with fear The word that haunts and shatters … How long shall we go on fearing? How long shall we keep running away? The more we run, the faster it chases The faster you erase the quicker it re-appears! Now cancer invokes anger in me The anger that returns Every time someone is diagnosed Every time cancer takes a life…
Management of Cancer

Food and Nutrition Cancer and cancer treatments can be harsh on the body. Lack of appetite, weight loss and muscle wasting are common during cancer and treatment. Healthy food choices that are high in calories and proteins can boost cell growth, weight gain and improve recovery. Here are some tips for good nutrition that can be followed while treatment is ongoing: Eat small and frequent snacks Eat every few hours Include lots of leafy greens and vegetables in the diet (but make sure they…
Cancer Treatment

The options depend on the type of cancer, how far it has spread, age, lifestyle and the health status of the patient. There is no single treatment for cancer and doctors often combine different types of treatment. Surgery - Surgery is the oldest known method of treating cancer. Surgery is quite effective if the cancer has not spread or metastasised. Surgery is often combined with other forms of therapy, like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy is generally used when the…
Causes of Cancer and Risk Factors

What causes cancer? Understanding the causes and risk factors can help in cancer prevention efforts and early detection strategies. Here are some common triggers: Genetics - Genetic predisposition can increase the risk of certain cancers, especially in families with a history of the disease. Each cell in our body contains DNA, which controls its action. Any change or mutation to the DNA that damages the genes involved in cell division can lead to cancer. Cancer occurs when because of gene…
Prevention of Cancer

Cancer accounted for an estimate 9.6 million deaths in 2018. This cancer burden can be reduced by avoiding key risk factors, early detecttion and management of patients. The risk of developing cancer depends on genes, environment and lifestyle. If the cancer is linked to certain behaviours, it may be prevented. Here are some dos and don’ts: Do not use tobacco (smokless and smoking) to protect against oral, lung and several other cancers Do not drink excessive alcohol to protect against liver…