Chemotherapy for Prostate Cancer

As the name suggest Chemotherapy -chemo uses anti-cancer drugs. These drugs are injected into a vein or given by mouth. The chemo agents administered travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells in most parts of the body. Yes, in world of oncology chemotherapy is considered as conventional arm for treatment regimen.

It is essential here to consider that Chemotherapy is not only for killing cancer cells during treatment, while chemotherapy is also used in combination treatment therapy before radiation to shrink the lesion mass. In prostate cancer the role of chemotherapy is also important in cases when the cancer cells of prostate cancer have spread outside the prostate gland. Also, the effective role of chemotherapy is supported with data based and clinical evidence in treatment of prostate cancer when hormone therapy isn’t working.

As per recent research, the data is advocating that the chemotherapy is helpful in combination with hormone therapy- again this is option for some cases.

Yes, it is accepted fact that the chemotherapy alone is surely not considered a standard treatment for early prostate cancer.

The chemotherapeutic agents prescribed in treatment of prostate cancer:

Not: in diagnosis of prostate cancer the oncologist will administer the chemotherapy drugs one at a time, to the patient. Some of the chemo drugs used to treat prostate cancer include:

1. Docetaxel (Taxotere)

2. Cabazitaxel (Jevtana)

3. Mitoxantrone (Novantrone)

4. Estramustine (Emcyt)

Among the diagnosed cases of prostate cancer, many of the cases are being administered with the first drug given as docetaxel, which is combined with the steroid drug prednisone.

After the docetaxel that is in case when it does not work, cabazitaxel is often the next chemo drug tried.

As per the evidence-based data reported in literature the Docetaxel and are associated with increased disease-free survival rate. Both the mentioned drugs slow the cancer’s growth and also reduce symptoms, resulting in a better quality of life.

Other chemo drugs being studied for use in prostate cancer include:

1. Carboplatin

2. Oxaliplatin

3. Cisplatin.

Chemotherapy for prostate cancer is typically administered through a vein (IV). This can be achieved either as an infusion over a certain period of time. Some drugs given as pill are Estramustine.

For administering chemotherapy, slightly larger and sturdier IV is required. The IV administered for chemo patients are known as central venous catheters (CVCs), central venous access devices (CVADs), or central lines. Besides the administration of cancer treating medicines, they also help to administer blood products, nutrients, or fluids right into your blood and are also used to take out blood for testing.

Different kinds of CVCs available in the oncology hub; among which the most common types are the port and the PICC line.

Oncologist prefer administering chemotherapy through treatment regimen in cycles, and in each period or cycle of treatment followed by a rest period. This rest period is for patient, this rest time is for patients body to recover from the effects of the chemotherapy drugs. The chemotherapy cycles are most often 2 or 3 weeks long, and yes! the schedule varies depending on the drugs used.

In the prostate cancer during advanced stages, the length of chemotherapy treatment regimen is based on how well it is working, how patient’s body is responding and what side effects patients have.

For more details about Prostate cancer treatment in India, you can visit us at our website of CANCER ROUNDS. Our best oncologist’s team will counsel you and provide the innovations in prostate cancer treatment. On average the chemotherapy treatment cost in India is 70000/-INR.

It’s time to fight cancer without worrying about the cost as Cancer Rounds also guide and aid for funds to cancer patients.