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Targeted therapy

How Effective Targeted Therapy  Kills Cancer Cells Without Harming Healthy Cells?

Do you know, that you can increase the lifespan of cancer patients by targeted therapy while significantly reducing the side effects?

Chemotherapy is a carpet-bombing strategy that kills all the multiplying cells. This therapy not only kills the cancerous cells but also kills the healthy cells of the body. This is precisely the reason why patients undergoing chemotherapy have to face so many side effects, from, hair loss to immunity loss.

What if there exists a way whereby we can kill the cancer cells in a very targeted way without killing the healthy cells of the body? 

Researchers across the globe are working continuously to achieve the same. 

There is significant progress made on this aspect and for select cancers, the specific cells are identified and killed in a targeted way. This therapy is called targeted therapy.

Targeted therapy in India is the more precise and effective drug therapy that can kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells. It can also restrict cancer cell growth. Medical Oncologists have started using targeted drug therapy in conjunction with chemotherapy for select cancer conditions.

Targeted therapy in India has increased the survival rates and reduced the probability of the recurrence of cancer.  

Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy treatment

Let’s understand the experience of Arina from Rwanda.

Arina is a 45-year-old professor in a reputed college in Kigali, Rwanda. She has two children and a caring husband. Arina is a very active, caring, and fun-loving woman. She loves to spend time with family and friends and visit different places. 

Two years ago, Arina started experiencing pain in the pelvic region with abdominal bloating and discomfort that troubled her for a week. At the end of that week, her husband Eric got concerned and booked an appointment with the gynecologist. The doctor examined Arina and suggested an ultrasound and MRI.

The test reports confirmed ovarian cancer. Arina and Eric were taken aback by the news. Arina could not control her emotions and started visualizing the worst. However, Eric consoled her and supported her in fighting the battle against cancer. The doctor advised Eric to consult an oncologist.

Eric started researching the best reasonable-cost treatment options for ovarian cancer. While researching he came across the MedicoExperts website and learned about our Tumor board approach to treating cancer.

After reading the information Eric left an inquiry on the MedicoExperts website. The MedicoExperts patient care department got in touch with Eric and arranged the online consultation with the highly experienced oncologist from its panel who is also the head of the tumor board. 

During the consultation, the doctor explained the treatment protocol to Eric and Arina and also cleared all the doubts regarding the treatment. The doctor also recommended that they start the treatment as early as possible and warned them about the possible dangers of delaying the treatment. After understanding, all the aspects of the treatment Eric decided to travel to India for targeted therapy.

After a week, Arina along with her husband came to India. On the same day, she was admitted to the hospital. A pre-evaluation test was performed to check the current condition of the cancer.

A cancer antigen (CA) 125 blood test (ovarian cancer blood marker) depicted elevated levels of the biomarker protein which is 532 (the normal range is less than 50).

The tumor board decides to do the surgery to remove the Uterus, Ovaries, Omentum, and Fallopian tubes. 

The surgical oncologist performed the successful surgery and then a biopsy was done. 

As per biopsy reports, ovarian cancer of stage 3c (high-grade serous carcinoma) and tumor tissue were also detected in the omentum. Further, the doctor also recommended the genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2. 

Targeted therapy in India
Targeted therapy

After two weeks, a genetic test BRCA1 and BRCA2 was done. BRCA-2 is positive in Genetic Biopsy. The doctor decides to give chemotherapy with a combination of targeted therapy.

After completing six chemo cycles and 5 doses of targeted therapy, a cancer antigen (CA) 125 test was done and it came to 6 (previously it was 532).

Since Arina’s BRCA-2 test was positive, the breast cancer team came into the picture and performed  Mammogram and MRI to rule out any spread in the breast. The reports were clear. 

The doctor prescribed further medication and recommended a follow-up with MRI and blood tests after 6 months. 

After 6 months, Arina and Eric did the follow-up through the online video consultation. The progress was good and as expected.  

Arina and Eric were very happy with the treatment. 

This could be your story as well to defeat cancer. 

Now, let’s understand what targeted therapy is.

Consult Our MedicoExperts Tumor Board for Targeted Therapy Solutions

Empower Your Cancer Treatment

What is targeted therapy?

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment in which drugs are used to “precisely identify” and attack specific cancer cells. 

Targeted therapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments like traditional or standard chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. 

Knowing and understanding targeted therapy can significantly help you prepare for treatment and make informed decisions.

Let’s understand how targeted therapy works.

What is targeted therapy
How targeted therapy works?

How targeted therapy work?

Targeted therapies can detect and block certain types of messages sent inside a cancer cell that tell it to grow, or can find and attack specific areas or substances in cancer cells. 

The following are some of the substances found in cancer cells that become “targets” for this therapy:

  • On a cancer cell, too much of a certain protein
  • A cancer cell protein that is not found in normal cells.
  • On a cancer cell, a protein has been mutated (changed) in some way.
  • Gene (DNA) changes that do not occur in a healthy cell.

Targeted drugs can:

  • Block or destroy chemical signals that tell cancer cells to divide and grow.
  • Change the proteins in cancer cells to cause them to die.
  • Stop forming new blood vessels in order to feed cancer cells.
  • Make your immune system attack cancer cells.
  • Toxins are delivered to cancer cells to kill them, but not to normal cells.
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