What preventive chemotherapy is he undergoing?

Experts analyze the preventive chemotherapy undergone by the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, who was diagnosed with the disease cancer During the Duration of surgery in stomach In January, how it works and when to use it.

Kate stated that at the time of the surgery it was believed that she was cancer-free, but post-operative tests proved otherwise.

Also known as Adjuvant therapyPreventive chemotherapy Often used after surgery To reduce the chance of cancer returning and spreading.

the Lawrence Young“Even after successful surgical removal of all visible cancers,” explains the Professor of Molecular Oncology at the University of Warwick. Small cancer cells maybe remain hidden in the body and cannot be detected by current tests.

When is preventive chemotherapy used?

The most prominent cancer specialist and oncology consultant, Dr. Karol Sikora reported for Sky News that this method can be used when “Mr The risk of recurrence is high».

“The way treatment is delivered is much better now and it is carried out very professionally and he will get the best care possible.”

“Doctors are able to predict,” he explains.The right treatment for the right patient. Although it is unpleasant, chemotherapy is of great benefit.”

explains Thomas Moore, Sky's science correspondent A common procedure after many surgeries.

“They ran tests on the cells, and that's when they discovered they were cancerous,” he explains.

“When they talk about preventive chemotherapy, it's in case there are other cells remaining after the procedure, to make sure those cells are there They are not the seeds of cancer that grows again“, pointing to.

The NHS describes adjuvant chemotherapy as chemotherapy used forReducing the risk of cancer coming back after radiotherapy or surgery».

Cancer can “escape” from the original organ

Dr Mangesh Thorat, Emeritus Professor at Queen Mary University of London and a surgeon at Homerton University Hospital, says: Tests cannot detect microscopic cancersTherefore, preventive treatments are used when cancer is known to exist.

With the discovery of the presence of cancer after the operation, it was possible to make the decision to give the princess chemotherapy Ensure that any remaining cancer cells are killed.

“Surgery is the most curative form of treatment for solid organ cancers in the early stages. However, sometimes, some cancer cells escape the original organ and begin to settle in other organs, such as the lung or liver. Tests available today are unable to detect such spread.” microscopy, thus improving the chances of treatment. This potential spread is often untreated even after the cancer in the original solid organ has been completely removed“, He says.

According to the expert: “Depending on the type of cancer, a series of drugs is used that can reach all the organs of the body in which such spread may have occurred. Chemotherapy is one of the types of treatment that is used pharmaceutical the Which works especially on cells that divide quicklyFor example, in cancer cells and kills them.”

Is treatment related to the patient's age?

Another expert describes preventive chemotherapy as “like wiping the floor with bleach after something has been spilled on it. Chemotherapy also kills the shed cells».

“Age does not affect the success rate of chemotherapyunless the cancers are “immunotherapy”, which is more common in young people – in which case it is called a type of chemotherapy. Immunotherapy.

He continues: “He says younger people can tolerate higher doses of chemotherapy better, so they could be given stronger treatment plans that are more likely to kill any remaining cells.”

Chemotherapy is given Generally for three to 12 monthsDepending on the type of cancer, it is highlighted.

How is preventive chemotherapy given?

Pat Price, chairman of Radiotherapy UK and a leading cancer doctor, said the surgery itself would have removed the cancer.

“Sometimes there's a little bit of concern in some tumors about whether something has been left behind or whether there's a risk of it coming back,” he told Sky News.

the doctors Then they often use preventive chemotherapyusually with In the form of tablets or injectionspointing to.

It is often given over a period of time Four or six months And then It has been completed“Things like that”we hope“It should be fine,” confirms the expert.

What are the risks?

He also explains that chemotherapy It affects all human cells – So Cancer cells as well as normal tissues.

This can then cause Problems with bone marrow and intestines.causing symptoms such as feeling Feeling malaise or decreased blood production.