1.1 About chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, short for chemical therapy, is a treatment method that uses cytotoxic drugs to kill cancer cells in order to eliminate or suppress tumor cells in the body.
When patients receive chemotherapy drugs orally or through intravenous injection, the chemotherapeutic agents circulate through the blood, reaching every organ and tissue in the body. The drugs are absorbed by cells and enter the cell, where they interfere with the cell’s growth and division, triggering the cell’s self-destruction process called apoptosis, leading to cell damage and death. Chemotherapy drugs generally affect and disrupt rapidly growing cells, and since cancer cells grow and proliferate uncontrollably, the drugs primarily target and destroy cancer cells to achieve the therapeutic goal.
However, because chemotherapy drugs do not distinguish between cancer cells and normal cells, they also damage normal body cells, especially those that grow rapidly, such as cells in the oral mucosa, bone marrow, and hair follicles. As a result, patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience various side effects. However, most of these side effects are temporary and subside as healthy cells regenerate.
1.2 Goal of chemotherapy
The goals of chemotherapy include the following:
- Curative Intent: Destroying cancer cells with the goal of curing cancer.
- Adjuvant Therapy: Using chemotherapy after surgery to reduce the chances of cancer recurrence.
- Neoadjuvant Therapy: Using chemotherapy before surgery to shrink tumors and reduce tumor staging, making it easier to perform surgery and increasing the chances of completely removing the tumor.
- Palliative Care: For advanced-stage cancer patients, chemotherapy is used to inhibit the spread of cancer cells, relieve symptoms, and prolong the patient’s life.
1.3 Administration of chemotherapy
Doctors can administer chemotherapy through the following methods:
- Oral Medications: Chemotherapy drugs can be taken in pill or liquid form by mouth. This allows patients to take the medications at home as prescribed by their doctor.
- Peripheral Intravenous Injection: Chemotherapy drugs can be administered through a vein in the arm or hand using a needle or catheter. This method is commonly used for outpatient treatments.
- Central Intravenous Injection: For certain chemotherapy drugs or treatments that require frequent or long-term administration, a central venous catheter may be placed into a large vein, such as the subclavian vein or jugular vein. This allows direct access to the bloodstream and facilitates the delivery of chemotherapy drugs.
- Implantable Port: An indwelling port, also known as a port-a-cath or just port, is a small device that is surgically implanted under the skin, typically in the chest area. It consists of a reservoir connected to a catheter that is inserted into a vein. The port provides a convenient and long-term access point for administering chemotherapy drugs, as well as for drawing blood samples.
The choice of administration method depends on various factors, such as the specific chemotherapy drugs being used, the treatment plan, and the individual patient’s condition. The doctor will determine the most appropriate method for each patient.
1.4 Common chemotherapeutic agents used in breast cancer
- Anthracycline, including Adriamycin, Eqirubicin.
- Taxol, Taxotere。
- Carboplatin。