Overview
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs that are made to find and attack specific molecules or genetic changes that make cancer grow. Chemotherapy affects both healthy and cancerous cells that divide quickly. Targeted therapy, on the other hand, affects only specific pathways involved in tumour growth. These treatments might stop signals that help cancer cells grow, prevent new blood vessels from forming that feed tumours, or cause cancer cells to die. Molecular or genetic testing of the tumour is often used to decide on targeted therapy. People often take it by mouth in pill form or through an IV. It is often used to treat breast, lung, colorectal, and some blood cancers.
Why It's Done
Targeted therapy is used to treat cancers with specific genetic mutations or protein markers. The treatment's goal is to stop cancer from spreading by focusing on these problems and protecting normal cells as much as possible. You can use it by itself or with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy. The goal is to make the treatment work better while possibly having fewer side effects than traditional treatments.
What to Expect?
Before starting targeted therapy, doctors test the tumour tissue to identify mutations or biomarkers that match the available drugs. Blood tests and imaging studies assess a person's overall health and the extent of disease spread. Patients may take oral medication every day at home or get intravenous infusions on a set schedule. The length of treatment depends on the type of cancer and how well it responds to treatment. Infusion-based therapies can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Side effects can include tiredness, skin rashes, diarrhoea, or changes in blood pressure. Regular blood tests and scans ensure the treatment is working and help manage side effects quickly.
Recovery & Outlook
Recovery is different for each person and type of cancer. Many patients do well with targeted therapy and can continue their normal activities while receiving treatment. Targeted therapy has raised survival rates for some types of cancer and is a more personalised way to treat cancer.