It can be frightening to find out you have cancer, but with new technologies, the rate of beating it is better than before. There are different chemotherapy types, and choosing the right approach can significantly affect your recovery journey.
Traditional chemotherapy has been a cornerstone for cancer treatment worldwide for decades. It involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells in the body. But recently, scientists have found targeted chemotherapy, a more precise approach to treat cancer. Targeted chemotherapy involves targeting cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. This blog will explore the differences between traditional and targeted chemotherapy and help you decide the right approach for your case.
What Is Traditional Chemotherapy?
Traditional chemotherapy is also known as systematic chemotherapy. It involves the administration of drugs that travel through the bloodstream and reach all parts of the body. It is widely recognized and used in the fight against cancer. Traditional chemotherapy is designed to target rapidly dividing cells, keeping cancer cells from dividing, growing, and making more cells. However, this treatment can also damage healthy cells as they undergo their normal cell cycle. That is why traditional chemotherapy causes side effects like hair loss and nausea.
What is Targeted Chemotherapy?
Targeted chemotherapy takes a more precise chemotherapy type. It targets cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, reducing the side effects of traditional chemotherapy. Targeted chemotherapy drugs are developed to interfere with cancer cells’ unique characteristics, such as genetic mutations or specific proteins that promote their growth. Cancer cells have changes in their genes that differentiate them from normal cells. With this feature, targeted chemotherapy offers a less harmful, tailored approach.
The Difference Between Traditional and Targeted Chemotherapy
Both traditional and targeted chemotherapy are effective methods of cancer treatment. However, there are some differences in their approaches. These include:
- Traditional chemotherapy can kill healthy cells by eliminating cancer cells, while targeted chemotherapy can identify the unique characteristics of cancer cells, sparing normal cells.
- Traditional chemotherapy causes many and often severe side effects. This is because the drugs target the rapidly dividing cells to prevent cancer cells from replicating. However, normal cells, like those lining the digestive tract, also replicate, hence being damaged by the drugs. On the other hand, targeted therapy only attacks the cancer cells and spares healthy cells, eliminating the side effects.
However, targeted chemotherapy may be able to slow the cancer but does not inhibit it enough to kill it. That is why healthcare professionals combine traditional and targeted chemotherapy for effective treatment.
Which Approach Is Right for You?
Choosing between traditional chemotherapy and targeted chemotherapy depends on the type and stage of cancer and your overall health.
Here are some key considerations you should know:
1. Genetic Profiling
Research and science have made it possible to identify the specific genetic mutations in cancer cells. Targeted chemotherapy can be more effective for patients whose cancer has identifiable molecular markers.
2. Cancer Type and Stage
Traditional chemotherapy is used in the treatment of various types of cancer. If your cancer has already spread throughout the body, traditional chemotherapy can be the best option. On the other hand, targeted chemotherapy is more effective with cancers with specific molecular targets like breast cancer or lung cancer.
3. Overall Body Health
Patients with overall good health can tolerate the side effects of traditional chemotherapy. In contrast, targeted chemotherapy may be the preferred choice for those who want to minimize side effects and maintain a better quality of life throughout the treatment process.
Explore Your Chemotherapy Options Today with the Cancer and Blood Disorders Treatment and Infusion Center
The choice between traditional and targeted chemotherapy is crucial in the fight against cancer. Each approach has advantages and limitations, but your choice depends on your circumstances.
Always consult a healthcare professional to determine the right chemotherapy type for you. For patients that do require chemotherapy, at the Cancer and Blood Disorders Treatment and Infusion Center, we are well equipped to handle a multitude of side effects, and many patients breeze through chemotherapy with ease.
Contact us at 301-638-1007 or fill out our online Contact Us form for more information or to book an appointment with our professionals. You can also visit our website to see the cancer treatments that we offer.