Chemotherapy
At UnityPoint health we know that no two cancer journeys are the same and that is why our doctors use a variety of treatments for cancer. Two of the more common therapies our doctors recommend when creating a treatment plan are chemotherapy and immunotherapy. While the therapies are different in their approach, they can be used together or in combination with surgery and radiation therapy.
What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs that are cytotoxic, meaning they can kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is considered a systemic treatment because the drugs travel throughout the body and can kill cancer cells that have spread (metastasized) to parts of the body far away from the original (primary) tumor.
When a doctor has recommended chemotherapy as an option to treat cancer, it’s important to understand the goals of treatment when making treatment decisions. There are three main goals for chemotherapy in cancer treatment:
- Cure – The cancer is destroyed and doesn’t come back.
- Control - Chemotherapy is used to shrink tumors and/or stop the cancer from growing and spreading.
- Palliation - Chemotherapy is used to ease symptoms caused by the cancer.
Chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other drugs or treatments.
Chemotherapy drugs are very different in their chemical composition, how they are prescribed and given, how useful they are in treating certain types of cancer and the side effects they may cause.
Oral Chemotherapy
While many chemotherapy drugs are given by infusion or injection, there are also oral chemotherapy drugs, which are taken by mouth. If a chemotherapy drug is taken by mouth, you swallow the pill, capsule or liquid just like other medications. Like other types of chemotherapy drugs, sometimes the treatment is given in rounds or cycles. The time off lets your body build healthy new cells and regain its strength.
Oral chemotherapy is usually taken at home. Because of this, it’s very important you know exactly how and when it should be taken. How often you take oral chemotherapy and how long your treatment lasts depend on the kind of cancer you have, the goals of the treatment, the drugs being used and how your body responds. Oral chemotherapy can be as strong as other forms of chemotherapy causing there to usually be special precautions for storing and handling the drugs. You should talk to your provider or pharmacy about how to store and handle your chemotherapy drugs.
Oral chemotherapy is taken at home giving you less treatment visits to attend and more freedom. You may not be seeing your care team as often but be sure to call your care team with any questions or concerns.
What is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses a person's own immune system to fight cancer. The immune system helps your body fight infections and other diseases. Immunotherapy can boost or change how the immune system works so it can find and attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy works better for some types of cancer than for others.
Immunotherapy can be used by itself for some cancers, but for others it works better when used with other types of treatment. Immunotherapy can cause side effects, many of which happen when the immune system that has been stimulated to act against the cancer cells also acts against healthy cells and tissues in the body.
In the last few decades immunotherapy has become an important part of treating some types of cancer. New immunotherapy treatments are being tested and approved, and new ways of working with the immune system are being discovered.