Prescribed after the diagnosis of cancer, chemotherapy – or “chemo” – “ aims to eliminate cancer cells wherever they are in the body. Including those that have not been identified by imaging tests “, underlines the National Institute of Cancer (INCa).
Chemotherapy is most often given by injection, sometimes by tablets. Depending on the case, the sessions take place in clinic, hospital (in classic hospitalization or day hospital), or at home (this is called home hospitalization or HAD) “. Knowing that today most takes place outpatient (day hospital) » : the patient can therefore go home the same evening.
A choice of medicine adapted to each situation
But how does chemotherapy act against cancer cells? It destroys them directly or it prevents their reproduction. Most often, the same chemotherapy corresponds to a combination of several drugs. Chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination with radiation therapy.
The choice of molecules is adapted to each situation: each cancer is unique and requires appropriate treatment ».
Before and after surgery
But when are patients offered chemotherapy? Most often during three periods:
Before surgery : this so-called neoadjuvant chemotherapy will make it possible to decrease the size of the tumor and thus facilitate the operation “. It also comes to limit the risk of recurrence » and help « quickly assess whether chemotherapy drugs are effective on the tumor » ;
After complete removal of the tumor, when all the cancerous cells have therefore been removed by the surgeon. In addition to surgery, this so-called adjuvant chemotherapy contributes to the reduction of ” risk of local or distant recurrence » ;
To treat metastases, that is, cancer cells that have spread to other organs in the body. This is called metastatic chemotherapy. Unsystematic, sometimes moderate but in all cases temporary, the undesirable effects linked to chemotherapy are fatigue, hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite, digestion problems or even a drop in libido and dermatological disorders.
These effects will depend on the type of medication, their combination, their dosage, and the reaction specific to each patient. To know that ” the importance of these undesirable effects is not a sign of the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the treatment », confirm the INCa specialists.
To note
Supportive care (nutrition, psychology, adapted physical activity, sexology, etc.) is there to help patients better tolerate the adverse effects related to treatment, and to the disease itself.