A NEW guide has been launched to better help cancer patients and their family understand a newer cancer treatment called targeted therapy.
Targeted therapy is a uses drugs or other substances to more precisely identify and attack cancer cells, known as molecular targets, to stop the cancer growing and spreading.
According to Cancer Council NSW the development of targeted therapy drugs has led to improved survival rates for several types of cancer and some patients have seen encouraging outcomes during targeted therapy treatment.
Cancer Council has developed a new national Understanding Targeted Therapy fact sheet to give cancer patients and their families an overview of what targeted therapy is, and how it may be used to treat cancer. The fact sheet is available online.
Cancer Council NSW Director of Cancer Information and Support Services, Annie Miller, says cancer patients need to be given all the facts when it comes to making treatment decisions.
“Treating cancer is complex and often patients can find discussing their treatment very overwhelming, especially when they’re unfamiliar with medical terminology.
“It is important to note that everyone’s cancer experience is unique and different treatment options work for different people.
“Our new targeted therapy fact sheet empowers patients to become familiar with this emerging treatment option, so they can prepare questions for their doctor about the best treatment option for them,” Ms Miller said.
“Our new resource has been reviewed by a panel of health experts and people affected by cancer to ensure all information included is backed by scientific evidence and is presented in a way that’s easy to understand.
“Patients can use the fact sheet to know more about how targeted therapy works, the different types of drugs currently available in Australia, when and how the drugs are used, and possible side-effects patients may experience.”
This new resource is available for free download online at www.cancercouncil.com.au/targetedtherapy
WHAT IS TARGETED THERAPY?
- Targeted therapy is a type of drug treatment that attacks specific features of cancer cells, known as molecular targets like genes or proteins, to stop the cancer growing and spreading.
- Targeted therapy drugs are used to control cancer growth. They often cause the signs and symptoms of cancer to reduce or disappear.
- Targeted therapy drugs have been approved for use in Australia for bowel, breast, cervical, kidney, lung, ovarian, stomach and thyroid cancers, as well as melanoma and some forms of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
- The development of targeted therapy drugs has led to improved survival rates for several types of cancer and some people have had encouraging outcomes.
- Targeted therapy drugs are becoming an increasingly important part of cancer treatment and may be used: after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells; to treat advanced cancer that hasn’t responded to other treatment, or cancer that has come back; as maintenance treatment for advanced cancer to try to prevent the cancer coming back.
Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
