Principal Director & Unit Head - Medical Oncology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, India
Part 6 of 8 in Diagnosis and Detection of Cancer
Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy Explained
May 19, 2024
Cancer treatment today is far more individualised, and far less feared, than most patients expect walking in.
Chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy
Chemotherapy is simply any drug that enters the body and kills cancer cells - even some arthritis drugs qualify when used this way. It is a painless procedure, similar to receiving IV fluids, with long-term side effects now much reduced through research; most patients return to normal activities like work the very next day. Targeted therapy hits only specific cancer cells by identifying a molecular target, with fewer side effects, though it isn't available for every cancer. Immunotherapy, the newest major modality, works by activating the patient's own immune system against the cancer, and is generally free of the major side effects associated with chemotherapy.
Treatment is not one-size-fits-all
No two cancers behave the same way, even when they occur in the same organ, so treatment, outcomes and cure rates are specific to the individual cancer. Modern treatment for advanced or metastatic disease similarly depends entirely on the specific cancer type and where it has spread, and may combine chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy accordingly.
This article is based on a Jivo Masterclass session conducted by Dr. Mohit Agarwal, Principal Director & Unit Head, Medical Oncology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. The article has been summarised with the assistance of an AI tool from the original masterclass recording. Watch the full Masterclass recording
Looking for a cancer diagnosis or oncology consultation? Get in touch with the Jivo team
This guide is based on a live Jivo Masterclass: Dr. Mohit Agarwal taught doctors across Africa on May 19, 2024.
FROM THE LIVE Q&A
Moderator
What are the risks of working in a close environment to chemotherapy?
Dr. Mohit Agarwal
Chemotherapy, if not handled properly, can be toxic to people nearby. It has to be prepared in a specific mixing unit with proper precautions, and only staff trained in handling and administering chemotherapy should give it.
Book a Consultation with Dr. Mohit Agarwal
Book on WhatsAppOr message us on WhatsApp: +91 98182 98669
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best treatment options for already metastasised malignant disease?▼
It is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It depends on the individual patient, which cancer is present in the body, and which site it has metastasised to. Treatment can be chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy depending on exactly what is being treated.
Why do brain tumours relapse so much compared with other tumours?▼
Brain tumours relapse mainly if they are high-grade or advanced-stage. Complete surgical removal of a brain tumour is nearly impossible, so high-grade or advanced tumours are more likely to recur; patients with low-grade tumours tend to be cured.
A male patient has a cystic mass with solid components draining blood-stained, chocolate-coloured, thick fluid from the left breast, with histology not yet available - what type of breast cancer is this likely to be, and what is the likely prognosis?▼
Any discharge from a male breast is not normal - it can be an infection, a malignancy, or something arising from the chest wall. The key next step is imaging and a histopathological diagnosis; this could turn out to be breast cancer, which would need immediate treatment.
What are the prognostic factors for breast cancer?▼
Two main factors: the patient's own disease stage, and the biology of the disease, meaning which receptors are present on the tumour for targeted or hormonal therapy.
If a patient responds to chemotherapy, is there any further need for radiotherapy?▼
For early breast cancer with lymph node involvement in the armpit, radiotherapy is typically given after chemotherapy to sterilise the local area. Whether radiotherapy is needed depends on the individual patient's stage and disease.
Is chemotherapy painful?▼
No - it is a painless procedure similar to receiving IV fluids, and most long-term side effects have been significantly reduced through modern research.
What is immunotherapy?▼
The newest major cancer treatment modality, which activates the patient's own immune system to fight cancer, generally without the major side effects of chemotherapy.
In This Series: Diagnosis and Detection of Cancer
- 1.Diagnosis and Detection of Cancer
- 2.Cancer Myths: Family History, Genetic Testing and Who Gets Cancer
- 3.Smoking and Other Major Cancer Risk Factors
- 4.The Seven Warning Signs of Cancer and How Biopsy Works
- 5.Cancer Staging, Tumour Markers and Screening Explained
- 6.Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy Explained
- 7.Breast Cancer: Prognostic Factors and Treatment Sequencing
- 8.The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention and Care