BREAST CANCER: CHEMOTHERAPY

Depending on the size of the tumour, age of the patient, condition of the underarm lymph nodes and biological and microscopic make-up of the tumour tissue, the oncologist will decide on any necessary supplementary treatment with medication. This may involve chemotherapy and/or a less invasive course of hormone therapy.

In the case of very large tumours or in the rare case of inflammatory breast cancer, a course of medication may be necessary before the first operation, to reduce the size of the tumour before the operation can even go ahead. In most cases, a course of chemotherapy based on cytostatics is prescribed. Cytostatics stop the cancer cells from dividing and multiplying; thereby inhibiting the growth of the cancerous tumour, as the drugs destroy the malignant, fast growing cells. Chemotherapy is normally used as a supplementary, post-operative treatment. The medication is taken for several days in a row. Then, after a break, a new treatment cycle commences. Normally several treatment cycles will be required. The course usually involves an individually determined combination of different substances. Unfortunately chemotherapy takes its toll on the body and is associated with some unpleasant side effects (hair loss, nausea, fatigue etc.). An increasing number of pharmaceutical companies are currently working on new approaches to cancer research. Certain antibody therapies based on monoclonal antibodies may offer certain women the prospect of successful new treatments with fewer side effects.

Hormone therapy is currently used as a supplementary treatment for breast cancer and to combat metastasis. The aim is to inhibit the growth-promoting effect of the female hormone, oestrogen, on the cancer cells. In cases of advanced tumour growth with added metastases, aromatase inhibitors are also employed.