Drugs used to treat cancer
These drugs are described as Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapies (SACT).
The type of drugs recommended for your treatment depends on:
- The type of cancer you have
- What the cancer cells look like under a microscope
- Changes in your genes
- Whether the cancer has spread
- Your general health
- Your wishes
You may be recommended one type of SACT or a combination of different types. You may also have surgery and/or Radiotherapy alongside it.
Doses of treatments are calculated on an individual patient basis and treatments are given in cycles. More information on drug dosage and cycles of treatment is given below.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs work by destroying rapidly dividing cells in the body. Some healthy cells can be destroyed as well as cancer cells.
Side effects from chemotherapy are caused by the healthy cells being temporarily affected.
For more information about chemotherapy, please visit:
Targeted/biological therapies
Targeted therapy drugs can work in different ways. They can deliver chemotherapy to the cancer cells which will kill them and trigger the immune system to recognise and target the cancer cells.
For more information about targeted therapies via Macmillan
These are the main types of target therapies and how they work:
Angiogenesis inhibitors
These drugs block the cancer cells from making their blood supply. If cancers have their blood supply, they will receive oxygen and nutrients to keep them growing, dividing and surviving.
Cancer growth blockers
These drugs stop the cancer cells from receiving the chemical signals that tell them to keep growing, dividing and surviving.
Monoclonal antibodies
These drugs attach themselves to the surface of cancer cells. This causes:
- Chemical signals to the cancer cells to be blocked
- The blood supply to the cancer cells to be blocked
- Allows white blood cells to attack cancer cells (checkpoint inhibitor drugs); white blood cells are part of the immune system
- The immune system to attack the cancer cells (immunotherapy drugs)
- The cancer cells to be more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs
Immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitor drugs)
These drugs help the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. Different types of immunotherapy drugs work in slightly different ways. These include monoclonal antibodies.
Immunotherapy drugs are not available for all types of cancer.
For more information about immunotherapy, please visit Cancer Research
Hormonal therapies
Some cancers use hormones, which are naturally made in the body, to help them to grow and survive. Hormone therapy drugs reduce or stop the production of specific hormones.
For more information on hormonal therapies via Macmillan or Cancer Research
Drug dosage
Some drugs are given as a fixed dose but many drug doses are calculated based on your Body Surface Area (BSA). Your BSA is the total area of your body that is covered with skin. This is calculated using your height and weight.
Your height and weight will be measured before starting SACT and then measured regularly throughout your course of treatment. This makes sure that you are prescribed the correct dose.
Cycles of SACT
Your course of treatment will be prescribed in many cycles. Each cycle includes a dose of SACT and a rest period. For example, you might have chemotherapy once every 3 weeks, for 6 cycles. Therefore, your course of treatment will be for a total of 18 weeks.
The 3 weeks are your rest period and give time for any damaged healthy cells to recover.
Your course of treatment, how many cycles you have, and how often you have it will be specific to you.
Other supportive medication
It may be recommended for you to have some extra medications to help you through your treatment or to prevent side effects.
These medications include:
Anti-sickness drugs
Some SACT is known to cause sickness. Anti-sickness medication may be given to you before your treatment and you may have a supply of anti-sickness drugs to take home.
Steroids
Steroids can be used for several reasons. They are a very effective anti-sickness medication and, can help decrease inflammation and swelling, boost appetite and energy levels.
For more information on steroids, please visit Macmillan
Bisphosphonates
These drugs help to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of bone fractures. They are also used to reduce the levels of calcium in the blood, if needed.
It is important to have a dental check and any work done before starting these drugs.
If you have any dental problems during your treatment, it is important to report this to your team. Your treatment may need to be interrupted to allow for dental treatment to be done.
More information about bisphosphonates can be found here.