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Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the standard methods of anticancer treatment. Chemotherapy is prescribed by the attending physician according to the relevant treatment plan and is given by a nurse to our department.

 

Effect?

The effect of chemotherapy is due to the ability of a drug with an anti-tumor effect (so-called cytostatics) to affect the growth and multiplication of a tumor cell. The mechanism of action differs for individual cytostatics, usually cytostatics interfere with a certain phase of the cell cycle and block cell growth.

 

Method of administration?

Cytostatics are usually administered intravenously by drip infusion. Intravenous administration is provided by an established central venous catheter.

For some diagnoses, cytostatics must also be given via the cerebrospinal fluid during a procedure called lumbar puncture.

There are also cytostatics in tablet form.

 

Serving scheme?

Chemotherapy is usually given at certain intervals, called cycles, series, or blocks. They always last for several days. During one cycle, the child is often hospitalized and practically 24 hours a day is connected to a drip infusion.

 

Importance?

Chemotherapy penetrates the blood and its effects affect the whole organism. This is a general treatment, unlike radiation or surgery, which only affects the area where the tumor occurs.

 

Side effects?

Cytostatics block the growth of rapidly multiplying cells, including cancer cells. However, the effect of chemotherapy is not specific, so chemotherapy also damages the cells of healthy tissues, which have the ability to grow rapidly. These are mainly hair follicle cells (chemotherapy leads to hair loss, hair, eyelashes and eyebrows, nail peeling), gastrointestinal mucosa (aphthae and inflammatory deposits in the mouth, diarrhea, inability to absorb nutrients from the diet), germ cells ( reduced fertility) and bone marrow cells (hematopoiesis attenuation).

 

Randomization?

Randomization is a procedure in which, at a certain stage of the treatment protocol, standard treatment is compared with known results and new treatment. The patient is randomly selected for one of two treatments. The division of patients into individual treatment procedures or so-called treatment branches is generated by a computer. Randomized clinical trials are the basis of advances in tumor therapy - treatment outcomes as well as side effects of new drugs will clarify the results of data analysis after the end of such a study. The goal of randomized clinical trials is to set the best (optimal) treatment procedure - to achieve the maximum chance of cure with the least possible medical burden on the child. A new treatment does not have to mean the inclusion of a new drug, more often it contains standard drugs in a new dosage or administration schedule. Inclusion in the study may not always lead to an improved prognosis compared to standard treatment. However, a randomized trial is always beneficial in the cancer treatment of future patients, as its results help to optimize anticancer treatment.