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Will You Require Preventative Chemotherapy After Surgery?
After receiving a diagnosis of cancer and being told surgery is required to remove the tumour, many patients may assume their treatment would end there. However, in some cases, they might need to undergo additional procedures to make sure all the cancer cells have been removed from the body.
They may need adjuvant chemotherapy, for instance, which is a course of drugs given to a patient when the oncology clinic believes there is still a risk of cancer being present despite surgery.
After receiving major abdominal surgery in January, tests revealed cancerous cells had been found in her body.
In a video statement, she announced: “My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Her chemotherapy began in late February, and she is likely to be continuing the course for a further few months.
Preventative chemotherapy is often used when the surgeon has been unable to remove all traces of cancerous cells from the body. It might also be advised when there is a chance microscopic cells have escaped the site of the tumour and spread to other areas.
These may remain undetectable in scans and tests until they have grown, which is why it is better to attack them now before they spread even more.
As chemotherapy targets all cells, including healthy ones, any cancerous ones will be killed off, wherever they are in the body.
If the medical team perceives there to be a high risk of the cancer recurring, they will typically advise adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the chance of any cells spreading.
How the chemotherapy is administered and for how long depends on the type of cancer, its stage and how far it is believed to have spread. So oncologists will tailor the treatment to each patient.
Typically, a course lasts between three and six months, and involves a few days of receiving chemotherapy followed by a period of recovery before the next dose.
As well as the drugs killing off the cancerous cells, they also attack healthy ones, which means patients can often feel very unwell while they are undergoing a course of chemotherapy.
Among the most common side effects are nausea and vomiting, hair loss or thinning, fatigue, anaemia, mouth ulcers, and a reduction in appetite.
It can also cause gums to bleed or nosebleeds, due to the drop in blood platelets; increase the chances of infection because white blood cell count declines; and cause breathlessness and tiredness as a result of the red blood cells falling.
Some people experience cognitive changes, such as poor concentration and memory; diarrhoea or constipation due to irritation of the bowel lining; hearing problems; a decline in sex drive; brittle nails; dry, sensitive and irritable skin; and damage to nerves.
The most common side effect from preventative chemotherapy is weakness, which can last for a few months after the treatment has ended.
Some patients might also experience long-term consequences of chemotherapy, including early menopause, heart and lung problems, and infertility. That is why it is important to fully discuss treatment options with the medical team first, understanding the risks of both having the chemotherapy and not having it.
Princess Catherine, along with most other patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy, is, therefore, hopeful this treatment will be successful.
Explaining how she needs to remain positive for the sake of her children, she said: “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.”
The 42-year-old added: “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
Remaining positive during intense treatments can have a big impact on its success too, with many people believing the mind has an important role to play in cancer treatments.
Though it is difficult to stay hopeful during chemotherapy, Cancer Research UK reminds patients to look for treatments that can relieve symptoms to improve quality of life; lean in to feelings instead of blocking them; stick to the facts; and keep a good network of people around to support, listen and lift them.
They may need adjuvant chemotherapy, for instance, which is a course of drugs given to a patient when the oncology clinic believes there is still a risk of cancer being present despite surgery.
What is adjuvant chemotherapy?
The Princess of Wales has raised awareness of adjuvant chemotherapy recently after announcing the personal news that she herself had been diagnosed with cancer.After receiving major abdominal surgery in January, tests revealed cancerous cells had been found in her body.
In a video statement, she announced: “My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Her chemotherapy began in late February, and she is likely to be continuing the course for a further few months.
Preventative chemotherapy is often used when the surgeon has been unable to remove all traces of cancerous cells from the body. It might also be advised when there is a chance microscopic cells have escaped the site of the tumour and spread to other areas.
These may remain undetectable in scans and tests until they have grown, which is why it is better to attack them now before they spread even more.
As chemotherapy targets all cells, including healthy ones, any cancerous ones will be killed off, wherever they are in the body.
If the medical team perceives there to be a high risk of the cancer recurring, they will typically advise adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the chance of any cells spreading.
What is the procedure?
Adjuvant chemotherapy is just the same as other types of chemotherapy, though the dose and length of the course might differ.How the chemotherapy is administered and for how long depends on the type of cancer, its stage and how far it is believed to have spread. So oncologists will tailor the treatment to each patient.
Typically, a course lasts between three and six months, and involves a few days of receiving chemotherapy followed by a period of recovery before the next dose.
Does it have the same side effects as other chemotherapy?
The side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy are just the same as they would be for other forms of cancer treatment.As well as the drugs killing off the cancerous cells, they also attack healthy ones, which means patients can often feel very unwell while they are undergoing a course of chemotherapy.
Among the most common side effects are nausea and vomiting, hair loss or thinning, fatigue, anaemia, mouth ulcers, and a reduction in appetite.
It can also cause gums to bleed or nosebleeds, due to the drop in blood platelets; increase the chances of infection because white blood cell count declines; and cause breathlessness and tiredness as a result of the red blood cells falling.
Some people experience cognitive changes, such as poor concentration and memory; diarrhoea or constipation due to irritation of the bowel lining; hearing problems; a decline in sex drive; brittle nails; dry, sensitive and irritable skin; and damage to nerves.
The most common side effect from preventative chemotherapy is weakness, which can last for a few months after the treatment has ended.
Some patients might also experience long-term consequences of chemotherapy, including early menopause, heart and lung problems, and infertility. That is why it is important to fully discuss treatment options with the medical team first, understanding the risks of both having the chemotherapy and not having it.
Outcomes of preventative chemotherapy
The reason for preventative chemotherapy is to reduce the chances of the cancerous cells remaining in the body and therefore, of the cancer recurring. Therefore, the best outcome for the treatment is to remain cancer-free for years to come.Princess Catherine, along with most other patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy, is, therefore, hopeful this treatment will be successful.
Explaining how she needs to remain positive for the sake of her children, she said: “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.”
The 42-year-old added: “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
Remaining positive during intense treatments can have a big impact on its success too, with many people believing the mind has an important role to play in cancer treatments.
Though it is difficult to stay hopeful during chemotherapy, Cancer Research UK reminds patients to look for treatments that can relieve symptoms to improve quality of life; lean in to feelings instead of blocking them; stick to the facts; and keep a good network of people around to support, listen and lift them.
