Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is administered prior to surgical or radiation procedures. It is advised when tumours are too large to be operated on or when the tumor’s location makes surgery difficult.

• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy drugs shrink the tumour to allow for surgery.
• Adjuvant chemotherapy is administered following surgical or radiation procedures. It is recommended that any remaining cancer cells that are not visible in imaging tests be cleaned up. This treatment helps to reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence.
• Palliative chemotherapy to manage cancer symptoms, palliative chemotherapy is recommended.

Chemotherapy Consequences

Chemotherapy drugs also have a tendency to destroy rapidly dividing healthy cells in the intestines, mouth, and other areas, resulting in some side effects. Chemotherapy side effects usually disappear after the treatment. Chemotherapy side effects include:

• Hair thinning
• Nauseousness or vomiting
• Anaemia
• Fatigue
• Diarrhoea
• Sores in the mouth
• Platelet count is low

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of advanced cancer treatment in which drugs are used to target specific proteins and genes found in cancer cells and other cells related to cancer growth. The drugs prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.

Targeted Therapy Is Classified Into Two Types.

• Small Molecule Drug Therapy – These drugs enter cancer cells, target proteins, and block signals for cell division and growth.
• Monoclonal Antibodies – These are antibodies created in a laboratory that are similar to antibodies produced by the immune system. They target and destroy the proteins in cancer cells.

Side-Effects Of Targeted Therapy

Though less harmful than chemotherapy, targeted therapy does have some rare side effects. Some examples are:

• Inflammation in the liver
• Diarrhoea
• Skin rashes or acne
• Bleeding
• Hair discoloration
• Blood pressure is high
• GI perforation
• Sperm production is hampered
• Issues with blood clotting

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a innovative medical oncology procedure that uses the body’s own immune cells to halt cancer growth. The procedure triggers the body’s immune system, which destroys the infected cells. Medical oncologists use immune cells from the patient’s body or laboratory-made treatments to improve immune system function.

Immunotherapy Is Classified Into Three Types.

• Drug Therapy – Anti-cancer drugs that boost the immune system and produce antibodies.
• Dendritic Cell Therapy – This therapy employs T-cells to combat cancer cells. T-cells are extracted from the blood and sent to a lab for modification. The patient’s body is then injected with the modified T-cells to fight infection and cancer.
• Dendritic Cell Therapy – This therapy employs T-cells to combat cancer cells. T-cells are extracted from the blood and sent to a lab for modification. The patient’s body is then injected with the modified T-cells to fight infection and cancer.
• Cancer Vaccines – Cancer vaccines are injected into patients to stimulate the immune system into producing antibodies to kill the antigens and other materials that cause cancer cell growth.

Side effects of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy improves immune system function but may cause some side effects such as

• Reactions to allergens
• Inflammation
• Pneumonitis
• Retention of fluid
• Blisters, dryness, or redness of the skin
• Fatigue
• Bodyache
• Dizziness
• Blood pressure can be high or low
• Edoema

Hormone Replacement Therapy

This therapy is used to treat cancers that are hormone-dependent or sensitive to hormones. Breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other hormone-sensitive cancers are examples. To stop the growth of cancer cells, hormone therapy uses medications to stop or reduce the production of hormones in the body.

Side-Effects Of Hormone Therapy

Because hormone therapy involves reducing or stopping hormone production, there are some side effects associated with hormone deficiency. Some of the side effects are as follows:

• Vaginal dryness and hot flashes
• Tiredness
• Diarrhoea and constipation are examples of digestive system problems
• Gaining weight
• Headache
• Memory lapses
• Hair thinning or loss
• Joint discomfort
• Thickening of the bones
• Depression