Chemotherapy - Neolife Bucharest Imunotherapy - Hormonal Therapy

Oncologic treatments

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy (medication therapy): the purpose of chemotherapy is to destroy cancer cells that multiply uncontrollably as a result of changes in their structure. The therapy consists in the administration of medicines, either orally or by injection, which are called anticancerigen or cytotoxic, which act by slowing down or blocking the growth of cancer cells with a very fast rhythm of division. However, the cytotoxic therapy may also affect healthy cells, in particular those with a faster pace of multiplication. The deterioration of healthy cells can cause adverse reactions but, in most cases, the side effects cease after the completion of the cytotoxic therapy.​

The treatment is customised depending on the cancer’s type and stage. Sometimes, chemotherapy is the only possible therapy, other times it can be combined with surgery or radiotherapy.​

Depending on the type and stage of the disease, the treatment can pursue different outcomes:​

• Definitive treatment of cancer (the tumour cells are completely destroyed and the disease does not return)
• Keeping the evolution of cancer under control (slowing down tumour growth)
• Eliminating the symptoms caused by cancer (to eliminate or reduce pain and similar symptoms).
• Chemotherapy can be administered before or after surgical intervention, during, before or after performing radiotherapy.​

In this regard, chemotherapy:

• Reduces the size of the tumour prior to surgery or radiotherapy (neoadjuvant chemotherapy);
• Destroys residual cancer cells after surgery or radiotherapy (adjuvant chemotherapy);
• Increases the efficiency of radiotherapy (synergic effect);
• Destroys cancer cells that have reoccurred (relapsed cancer) or stops their spreading to other parts of the body (metastatic cancer).

Hormonal treatment

It applies in the treatment of malignant tumours that are sensitive to hormones, for example prostate cancer or breast cancer. The medication is usually administered orally. Another method of administration is by injection.

In case of breast cancer, the hormonal treatment is chosen based on the types of hormonal receptors and their number, as well as the woman’s age and hormonal status (pre- or post-menopausal). Typically, the hormonal treatment is recommended after surgery.

There are several types of hormonal therapies:

• Therapies that block the functioning of ovaries. The medication that is prescribed stops ovaries’ production of oestrogen;
• Anti-oestrogen therapy – blocks the function of the oestrogenic receptors.
• Administration of progesterone, a hormone that inhibits receptors’ affinity for oestrogen
• Aromatase inhibitors – prevent the formation of hormonal precursors of oestrogen.

Hormonotherapy applies to all stages of breast cancer, with a duration of five years. During the first 2-3 years the classic anti-oestrogen treatment is followed, and in the next 2-3 years, the one with third generation anti-oestrogens). 80% of breast cancer cases undergo hormonotherapy after mastectomy.

Imunotherapy

The immune system acts as surveillance mechanism in order to protect the body from what it considers “non-self” substances. For years, scientists have been trying to stimulate the body’s defence mechanisms to enable it to fight with more efficacy against the invasion of cancer cells. This approach, which is less toxic for the patient’s body, is called immunotherapy.

It uses biological substances or modulators of the immune response (for example, monoclonal antibodies, growth factors or vaccines), with a role in stopping the development of tumour cells, to destroy them or to prevent reoccurrence of the disease. More recently, genetic (gene) therapy has been discussed in the context of cancer therapy.

Oncology Medical Team - Neolife Bucharest

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