Chemotherapy is a very effectives treatment option
for cancer, and in many cases it increases the chance of a cure. In
advanced cancer, it can alleviate the symptoms. Chemotherapy is one of the
most important treatments for many types of cancer, such as breast cancer , colon cancer , lung cancer , stomach cancer and testicular cancer .
Doctors usually combine chemotherapy with other
cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy (chemoradiotherapy),
antibody therapy , or immunotherapy . Together
they have a higher clout. Colloquially, chemotherapy is often called
"chemo".
Chemotherapy intervenes in cell division
During chemotherapy, doctors use cell-killing
drugs, so-called chemotherapeutic agents or cytostatic agents. In contrast
to surgery or radiation, which only attack malignant tumor cells locally,
chemotherapy works throughout the body. Doctors say
"systemic".
The active ingredients intervene in the division
and reproduction cycle of cancer cells and prevent the cancer from growing
further. Above all, they damage the genetic material (DNA) of cells that
divide very quickly. These then die off. This applies to cancer
cells, but also to healthy hair, skin and mucous membrane cells. This is
also the reason why hair usually falls out during chemotherapy.
Curative or palliative chemotherapy
There are different types of chemotherapy that
pursue different goals: Either the cytostatics should eliminate all cancer
cells and heal the malignant tumor - then doctors call them curative
chemotherapy (curative = healing). Sometimes the cancer is more advanced
and has metastasized in other organs. Then healing is usually no longer possible. In
this case, chemotherapy aims to slow the progression of the cancer, relieve
discomfort, improve quality of life and extend life. Palliative
chemotherapy is the technical term for it.
Adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy
The adjuvant chemotherapy follows another cancer
treatment - namely surgery. After the operation, doctors try to eliminate
any cancer cells that may still be in the body. The aim is to reduces the
risk of a relapse (relapse).
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, on the other hand, means
that doctors use the cytostatics before the operation. In doing so, they
try to shrink the tumor so that it can be operated on more gently. This
allows surgeons to preserve more tissue or parts of an organ and the procedure
is less radical. For example, breast-conserving surgery can often be
performed on women with breast cancer.
Chemotherapy - outpatient or inpatient
Depending on the type of cancer and the intensity
of the treatment, doctors carry out chemotherapy on an outpatient basis in a
specialized oncological practice or as an inpatient in a hospital. With
outpatient chemotherapy, you can go home a few hours later and relax
there. However, oncologists in private practice always offer an emergency
number, under which they can be reached at any time in the event of health
problems. In the case of inpatient chemotherapy, you will then remain in
the clinic and the doctors will observe how you tolerate the
cytostatics. You can quickly take countermeasures in the event of
unexpected or severe side effects.
Chemotherapy - Success Rate and Chances of Cure
It is not possible to precisely quantify the
success rate of chemotherapy. Because it depends crucially on the type of
cancer and the stage how high the chances of recovery are. In general, the
earlier doctors detect the cancer, the gentler it can be treated and the higher
the likelihood of recovery. Many cancer patients do not need chemotherapy
at an early stage. It then does more harm than good.
The success rate of chemotherapy is also difficult
to state because doctors usually do not use it as the sole treatment, but
combine it with other therapies. In many cases, chemotherapy lowers the
risk of the cancer returning. Cytostatics can also alleviate symptoms and
extend survival - this, too, is a success for many.
