Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments

When you start your Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment you will be given a physical copy of the Cancer Research UK, 鈥楥ancer Drug Treatment鈥� booklet. You can use this to help track your treatment and progress. This will be discussed with you by the oncology team, however a digital copy is available here: Your Cancer Treatment Record Book - downloadable version.pdf

The following are types of Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments which may be recommended to you:

Chemotherapy

Different types of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat different cancers and can be administered in different ways and at different points in your treatment pathway.听

Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells by interfering with their ability to divide and grow. Cancer cells divide and grow in a different and uncontrolled way and chemotherapy drugs can interfere with the cancer cells to change the way they grow.听

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment; meaning this affects the whole body.听

Chemotherapy prior to surgery is known as听苍别辞-补诲箩耻惫补苍迟听肠丑别尘辞迟丑别谤补辫测.听

Chemotherapy after surgery is known as听adjuvant听肠丑别尘辞迟丑别谤补辫测.听

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For information on the different medications used to treat different cancers, visit Macmillan Cancer Support鈥檚 website where you will be able to find information on the medication you have been prescribed via their 鈥樷€�.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: .

The NHS website has useful information via the following links to explain the process of chemotherapy: .

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Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your chemotherapy treatment:

Cancer Research UK:

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Macmillan Cancer Support:

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy medication works alongside the immune system to help it fight cancer cells. 麻豆国产 will conduct a biopsy to test the cancer cells to determine which medication is most suitable, depending on your diagnosis.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: .

The Cancer Research UK website has useful information via the following links to explain the process of immunotherapy:

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Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your immunotherapy treatment:

Macmillan Cancer Support:

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapies (or biological therapies) only work on particular types of cancer. 麻豆国产 will do a biopsy to test some of your cancer cells to check for specific mutations as target therapy medications are more effective against particular mutations. If the biopsy shows you have the specific mutation, then the targeted therapy medication may work for you. These work by stopping the chemical process in cells which cause the cancer cells to divide and grow. This differs from chemotherapy which kills the cancer cells.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: .

has useful information via the following link to explain the process of targeted therapy.

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Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your targeted therapy treatment:

Macmillan Cancer Support:

Hormone Therapy

Hormones are natural substances within the body which act like messengers between different parts of your body. Hormone Therapy (also known as Endocrine Therapy) can use the hormones within your body as a way of slowing down or stopping certain cancers growing.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: .

The Cancer Research UK website has useful information via the following links to explain the process of hormone therapy: .

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Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your hormone therapy treatment:

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy affects normal cells as well, but they are able to repair themselves more readily. Radiotherapy can destroy and shrink cancerous growths and is very effective in preventing cancer cells reappearing after surgery.听

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer Radiotherapy at 麻豆国产 District Hospital, so patients are referred to Southampton, Poole, Basingstoke or Bath.

University Hospital Southampton provide the following useful information, to explain the process of radiotherapy:

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Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your radiotherapy treatment:

Supportive medications

Other treatments can be used alongside your chosen cancer treatments to help with potential side effects. These include the following and Macmillan provide information on each via the links:

Erythropoietin:

G-CSF:

Nephrostomy:

Steroids:

Bishosphonates:

Cancer and breastfeeding

Many cancer treatments can make breastfeeding impossible due to the contamination of breastmilk, including:

Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
Hormonal therapy
Radiotherapy to the breast or chest area

If you were hoping to breastfeed or have already established a breastfeeding relationship and are advised to avoid or cease breastfeeding due to your cancer treatment, you may find this difficult and upsetting. These feelings are normal and valid, and it's important that you speak to a friend or loved one, or a professional (such as your Clinical Nurse Specialist and Cancer Support Worker) to help understand and process them.

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Information above is provided by Mummy鈥檚 Star, a useful resource if you need to stop breastfeeding

Additional Resources to support women to stop breastfeeding are:

Book: Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter- Support for when mothers have to stop breastfeeding by Amy Brown.

If you need breastfeeding support and are receiving care at 麻豆国产 District Hospital for cancer, your Clinical Nurse Specialist or Cancer Support Worker can refer you to the Infant Feeding Team if your baby is 12 months or younger. Please reach out to them for support. The Cancer Support Team number is 01722 336262 Extension 2417.

What if I am unwell after receiving cancer treatment?

If you are an existing patient receiving chemotherapy treatment and you have a temperature, feel unwell, or need advice on chemotherapy side effects or complications 鈥� please contact the Advice Line on 01722 341930.

Please visit the Acute Oncology section for more information.

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