Breast Cancer Chemotherapy | Breast Cancer Chemotherapy: An Ideal Solution

Use of anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells is referred as Chemotherapy. The doctor who determines the drugs and the dosage is known as a medical oncologist. Chemotherapy can be used for three major purposes: Adjuvant therapy: The goal is to prevent or postpone cancer from coming back after the initial surgery and radiation. Even when the cancer seems to be confined to the breast and lymph glands under the arm, there is a chance that cells may have already spread to other areas that cannot be seen. Chemotherapy is given to try and kill these cells. Neo-adjuvant therapy: Sometimes the cancer in the breast is so big that shrinking it first with chemotherapy may make it easier to do surgery and to treat metastatic disease. If the cancer shows up in parts of the body other than the breast and lymph glands under the arm, it is called metastatic disease. Chemotherapy can be one of the main ways to kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body, and help woman live longer with good quality of life.

Some of the most common chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer include the following: Anthracyclines: This class of drugs includes doxorubicin (Adriamycin), epirubicin (Ellence), and liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil); Taxanes: This class of drugs includes docetaxel (Taxotere), paclitaxel (Taxol), and protein-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane); Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan); Capecitabine (Xeloda) and 5 fluorouracil (5 FU); Vinorelbine (Navelbine); Gemcitabine (Gemzar); Trastuzumab (Herceptin): This drug is only of use in women whose cancers have the Her2 gene.

They are usually given in 2-4 week cycles. In adjuvant and neo-adjuvant settings, they are usually given in combinations of two or more drugs. Single agent (one drug at a time) can be a good choice in treating cancer that has already spread to other areas.

Chemotherapy is given either by mouth or injected into a vein daily, weekly or every 2-4 weeks. The treatment plan is designed for particular condition. Sometimes, if a person’s veins are hard to find, it can help to place something called a “port-a-cath” (completely covered with skin and requires no care) or a “Hickman” catheter (hangs outside the chest and must be cleaned and flushed) in a large vein. These devices are inserted by a surgeon or radiologist and have an opening to the skin, allowing chemotherapy medications to be given. They can also be used to administer fluids or take blood samples. The catheters are placed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. Once chemotherapy is finished, they can be easily removed.

There are many different chemotherapy drugs, and combinations of drugs, used to treat breast cancer. Research is always being carried out to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy whilst reducing the side effects.

Chemotherapy drugs can cause side effects, but these can usually be well controlled with medicines. Chemotherapy can reduce the production of white blood cells by the bone marrow. Chemotherapy can reduce the production of platelets, which help the blood to clot. Chemotherapy leads to anemic. Some chemotherapy drugs can make people sick and a few others make mouth sore. Some chemotherapy drugs may make hair fall out. Chemotherapy affects people in different ways. Some people find they are able to lead a fairly normal life during their treatment, but many people become very tired and have to take things much more slowly.