Chemotherapy for breast cancer is one of the main treatment methods. It is used as the only way to influence a malignant tumor. The effectiveness of this therapeutic regimen directly depends on the type of cancer cells, and, in addition, on the stage of the disease. Chemotherapy is often included in a comprehensive breast cancer treatment regimen.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy for breast cancer is a systemic cytostatic method for treating cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs introduced into the body are carried with blood and distributed throughout the tissues. The selectively acting blood-brain barrier does not appear to be an obstacle for them, which ensures systemicity. The drugs act not only on the primary focus, but also on distant metastases. As a result, the growth of malignant cells is inhibited even in screenings not yet diagnosed.
Drug groups
The following two groups of chemotherapy drugs:
- Drugs with cytotoxic effects that disrupt the functioning of cellular organelles and lead to tumor necrosis.
- Means with a cytostatic effect, in the framework of which the suppression of the process of cell division occurs.
Preparations intended for chemotherapy can act on protein molecules that bind to nucleic acids or are responsible for the formation of the skeleton of cells. Some of them slow down or disrupt gene replication processes, while others may contribute to the formation of toxic radicals or have antimetabolic effects.
Mechanism of action
Each drug has a specific mechanism, which is the basis for the classification of chemotherapeutic agents. Against the background of breast cancer, certain chemotherapy regimens may be prescribed, which include carefully selected combinations of various drugs. Preparations for chemotherapy for stage 2 breast cancer do not differ in selectivity, they negatively affect the vital activity of cells of the whole human body.
Proliferation rate
For malignant tumors, the highest proliferation rate is characteristic. This, in turn, is accompanied by a decrease in cellular differentiation along with inhibition of the natural mechanism of self-control. This explains the high efficiency of cytostatics; as a result of their influence, tumor cells stop dividing and die.
The rate of proliferation of ordinary cells in the human body is significantly lower compared to neoplastic cells. Therefore, even actively fissile structure is not so deeply damaged. After the termination of the effects of cytostatics, they can restore their functioning, and side effects are significantly reduced or completely disappear.
What is chemotherapy for breast cancer?
Chemotherapy and its types
The following types of chemotherapy are distinguished by modern medicine:
- As part of the treatment of breast cancer, chemotherapy can be either outpatient or inpatient. The choice depends on the power of the prescribed drugs, and, in addition, on the patient’s condition and the severity of side effects.
- Chemotherapy may be the primary treatment for cancer. A similar technique is often used in the presence of highly drug-sensitive tumors. It is also prescribed when it is impossible to use other cancer treatment options, for example, in the presence of multiple metastases. In this case, as a rule, powerful therapeutic regimens are used that allow affecting cancer cells at absolutely all stages of proliferation.
- Another variety is adjuvant chemotherapy. At the same time, the use of chemotherapy is an addition to alternative methods of treating breast cancer, and the tumor itself is removed surgically. In modern clinical practice, two options are used: neoadjuvant and postoperative chemotherapy. In the first case, the main tasks are controlling the growth of the tumor along with the prevention of metastasis. After the operation, chemotherapy is prescribed for anti-relapse purposes.
- Induction chemotherapy, which is carried out before the operation, is isolated, among other things. With the help of this treatment, the size of the tumor is reduced, making it possible to convert the cancer into an operable form.
What should be the chemotherapy for breast cancer after surgery?
Color coding for chemotherapy regimens
To indicate the type of treatment regimen used, the concepts of red, blue, white and yellow chemotherapy are used. It depends on the color of the injected medical solutions.
Red chemotherapy for breast cancer is considered the most powerful and at the same time very toxic. In this regard, it is worse tolerated, accompanied by a large number of various complications. In this scheme, "Doxorubicin" and "Idarubicin" with a cytostatic effect are used.
With a yellow regimen, drugs such as Methotrexate and Cyclophosphamide are prescribed. These agents are less toxic, and the treatment is milder. Blue and white chemotherapeutic regimens for breast cancer are used in the presence of certain indications.
What should be considered when deciding on chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy for breast cancer can be prescribed at any stage. At the same time, doctors can pursue different goals, which will affect the expected result of the planned treatment. When assessing the need for the use of cytostatics, the following factors are taken into account:
- The size of the tumor focus along with its location and degree of invasion.
- The nature of the oncogen expressivity, and, in addition, the degree of its differentiation.
- The involvement of the lymph nodes in the tumor process.
- Hormonal status of the tumor.
- Tumor growth dynamics.
- The hormonal status of the patient along with the full functioning of her ovaries.
- The age of the patient at the time of cancer diagnosis, as well as directly during the treatment.
An individual treatment regimen is prepared for each patient. Before starting the use of drugs, the genetic profile of the tumor is studied.
How is chemotherapy for stage 2 breast cancer performed?
Chemotherapy depends on the condition of the patient and her well-being. Before starting the first course, a clinical examination is prescribed, assessing the state of the heart, and, in addition, blood counts. This is required for subsequent monitoring of treatment tolerance over time, which will allow timely identification of serious complications.
Chemotherapy, as a rule, includes intravenous administration of drugs. It can be carried out around the clock or in a day hospital, sometimes it is done at home. Currently, various methods are actively being introduced that allow avoiding daily puncture of veins for vascular access. For example, some clinics propose the installation of a special port for the automated administration of drugs. A venous catheter is often installed.
How long is the session?
Thus, a chemotherapy session is carried out for several hours. Patients with fairly good health usually do not need round-the-clock hospitalization. After the doctor’s examination, the patients are sent home, and also allowed to return to their workplace. In the event that there are any side effects, prescribe additional medications or adjust the treatment regimen. As part of oral chemotherapy, drugs are given to patients for a certain number of days at home, and, in addition, recommendations are given regarding nutrition and lifestyle.
What happens after chemotherapy for breast cancer?
Undesirable consequences
Chemotherapy is a highly toxic treatment, so side effects can occur in most patients. The possible consequences of undergoing chemotherapy are as follows:
- The appearance of nausea, vomiting, an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth along with a deterioration in appetite.
- The appearance of inflammation of the oral mucosa.
- The occurrence of a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, as well as a violation of the stool.
- Hair loss up to complete baldness.
- The development of fragility along with a change in the color of the nails.
- The appearance of a skin rash of a different nature.
- The presence of subfebrile or febrile body temperature.
- The development of anemia.
- Immunosuppression, which leads to prolonged and complicated infectious ailments.
- Menstrual irregularities and infertility.
- The development of toxic myocardiopathy.
The effects of chemotherapy for breast cancer in women are manifested in different ways.
Many of these conditions are reversible and may soon pass after completion of the course. Hair and nails grow back quickly. However, after chemotherapy, most patients need recovery.
Recovery period
Recovery after chemotherapy with breast cancer may take some time, which directly depends on the severity of side effects, and, in addition, on the degree of organ damage. To speed up this process, doctors prescribe immunomodulating and hepatotropic drugs.
Of great importance in this matter is nutrition during chemotherapy for breast cancer. The menu should be balanced, it is necessary to use fresh vegetables and fruits along with sour-milk foods, proteins and iron-containing products. Nutrition after chemotherapy should provide the body with the necessary amount of essential nutrients and trace elements, preventing the development of hypovitaminosis. In this case, starvation is absolutely unacceptable, food intake should occur quite often, but in small portions.
Chemotherapy increases the survival of patients, even those who are at the third or fourth stage of breast cancer.