Eliminate the fear of chemotherapy and actively respond to treatment

Chemotherapy, as one of the important means of cancer treatment, often makes people feel fear. However, chemotherapy is actually not terrible. As long as we have a correct understanding of chemotherapy, we can better eliminate fear and cope with various challenges during the treatment process.

1. What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemical drugs to kill or inhibit the growth of tumor cells. These drugs can enter the body through oral, intravenous, intramuscular injections, etc., and act on tumor cells to stop their growth or kill them. Chemotherapy can not only be used to treat cancer, but also to relieve symptoms, shrink tumors, and prolong survival.

Principles of chemotherapy

The main principle of chemotherapy is to interfere with the growth, division and metabolism of tumor cells through drugs, thereby killing or inhibiting tumor cells. These drugs can interfere with and hinder specific processes of tumor cells, such as DNA synthesis and protein synthesis, thereby playing a therapeutic role. It should be noted that while chemotherapy drugs kill or inhibit tumor cells, they will also cause certain damage to normal cells, so they need to be carried out under the guidance of professional doctors.

Types of chemotherapy drugs

1. Alkylating agent.

Alkylating agents are a class of drugs that inhibit the growth of tumor cells by interfering with the synthesis and repair of DNA. Representative alkylating agents include cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide. They can bind to bases or phosphate groups in DNA molecules, causing breaks or cross-links in DNA chains, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells.

2.Antimetabolites.

Antimetabolites are a class of drugs that prevent the growth of tumor cells by interfering with their metabolic processes. These drugs are usually similar in structure to certain key substances in normal cell metabolism, thus competitively inhibiting the normal functions of these substances. For example, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil are two common antimetabolites. They can inhibit folic acid metabolism and thymine nucleotide synthesis respectively, thereby preventing DNA synthesis and cell proliferation of tumor cells.

3. Anti-tumor antibiotics.

Antitumor antibiotics are a class of drugs with direct cytotoxicity that can kill or inhibit the growth of tumor cells. Representative antitumor antibiotics include doxorubicin and mitomycin. These drugs can bind to DNA to form a stable complex, thereby interfering with DNA replication and transcription.

4. Plant-based anti-tumor drugs.

Plant-based anti-tumor drugs are a class of drugs derived from natural plants. They play a therapeutic role by interfering with the division and proliferation of tumor cells. Paclitaxel and vincristine are two typical plant-based anti-tumor drugs. Paclitaxel can stabilize microtubules and prevent cell mitosis, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells. Vincristine can attach to microtubules and inhibit the mitosis process of tumor cells.

4. Side Effects of Chemotherapy

While chemotherapy drugs kill or inhibit tumor cells, they also cause some damage to normal cells, thus causing some side effects. Common chemotherapy side effects include:

1. Gastrointestinal reactions: such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, etc.

2. Bone marrow suppression: causes a decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, affecting immune function and coagulation function.

3. Damage to liver and kidney function: Chemotherapy drugs need to be metabolized by the liver and kidneys. Long-term use may cause certain damage to liver and kidney function.

4. Neurological toxicity: Some chemotherapy drugs may cause peripheral neuropathy, manifested as symptoms such as numbness and pain in the hands and feet.

5. Chemotherapy precautions

During chemotherapy, patients need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Follow the doctor's advice: Patients should strictly follow the doctor's treatment plan and advice, take medication on time, and have regular check-ups to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment.

2. Maintain a balanced nutrition: During chemotherapy, patients may experience symptoms such as loss of appetite and indigestion, so they need to maintain a balanced nutrition and eat more foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals.

3. Pay attention to personal hygiene: Chemotherapy can reduce the patient's immunity and easily cause infection. Therefore, patients need to pay attention to personal hygiene, wash their hands frequently, avoid contact with sources of infection, etc.

4. Psychological adjustment: The chemotherapy process may cause certain psychological pressure on patients. Patients need to make appropriate psychological adjustments and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude.

6. Chemotherapy technology is improving

With the continuous advancement of medical technology, chemotherapy drugs are also constantly being updated. At present, many new chemotherapy drugs and treatment methods have been introduced, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy. These new methods have higher selectivity and lower side effects, bringing new hope for cancer treatment. In the future, with the deepening of research and the advancement of technology, chemotherapy will play a greater role in cancer treatment.

In short, chemotherapy is not terrible. As long as you know and understand it correctly, actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment plan and advice, pay attention to maintaining good living habits and adjust your mentality, you will have hope of defeating the disease and regaining your health.

Author: Cai Dingxian, Department of Oncology, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital