If you or someone in your family is battling cancer, then you must have heard of chemotherapy and radiation as a standard remedial option. But there’s an innovative treatment making waves in India, i.e., targeted therapy. Targeted therapy is revolutionizing the way we battle cancer by using a more targeted approach to combat the disease. As a health worker who has witnessed its effect, I’m sharing with you what targeted therapy is, how it’s benefitting individuals in India, and what you must know if it can be investigated for you. Let’s hear about this hope-inducing therapy in simple terms.
Targeted therapy is an exceptional form of cancer treatment that attempts to kill only the cancer cells without touching the good ones. While chemotherapy attacks both good and bad cells, targeted therapy is more like an intelligent weapon. It searches for unique characteristics in cancer cells—like specific proteins or genes that make them reproduce uncontrollably—and stops them. This can prevent or even block the cancer from spreading, giving your body a greater chance to heal.
Physicians apply this treatment by initially testing your cancer to see its individual characteristics. Some breast cancers, for instance, contain too much of a protein called HER2, and some lung cancers contain gene mutations such as EGFR. When they know what is causing your cancer, they can choose a drug that targets that specific issue. It’s similar to discovering the correct key for a lock.
In India, targeted therapy is increasingly utilized as promised, whereas other therapies may not. Physicians will frequently use it with different remedial options or treatments, such as surgery, aka chemotherapy, depending on the kind and extent of your cancer. For example, if you have metastatic breast cancer with HER2 mutations, you may use a medication such as trastuzumab to inhibit that protein and reduce the tumour. With lung cancer and EGFR mutations, medications such as gefitinib act on those very changes.
You can receive the treatment in a variety of ways. Some patients have pills you take at home that are medicines, and some receive them intravenously in the hospital. How frequently you receive it—daily, weekly, or in cycles—varies with what you have and which drug. Indian hospitals possess all the latest machines to diagnose your cancer and determine the optimal regimen, so this treatment is more convenient than ever.
Cancer is on the rise in India and millions of people are suffering every year. Conventional treatment like chemotherapy leads to side effects like hair loss, nausea, and fatigue since they target all rapidly growing cells, not only cancer cells. Targeted therapy is less harsh. As it targets only cancer cells, most patients have fewer side effects. Hence, it can lead to a good quality of life while undergoing treatment.
Another exciting aspect is that it treats different types of cancerous problems, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal, and blood cancers like leukaemia. For some, it has even made cancer a manageable disease, like diabetes, instead of a death sentence. In India, where healthcare is sometimes costly, researchers and physicians are also focusing on how to make these treatments affordable, which is a huge step forward.
The main benefit of targeted therapy is its specificity. In targeting cancer cells, it can:-
I’ve met patients who felt stronger and more like themselves after starting targeted therapy, especially when it eased their cancer symptoms. For example, a woman with breast cancer told me she could enjoy time with her family again after her tumour shrank, something chemotherapy alone hadn’t achieved. It’s not a cure for everyone, but it gives people more time and hope.
While targeted therapy is promising, it’s not perfect. One downside is that it doesn’t work for all cancers. Other treatments might be needed if your cancer doesn’t have a specific target—like a unique protein or gene. Doctors use tests like biopsies or genetic profiling to check if you’re a good fit, but these tests can add to the process.
Cost is also a concern. Targeted therapy in India can be a few lakhs to a few lakhs of rupees, depending on the medication, the type of cancer, and the hospital. Although cheaper than in most nations, it’s still unaffordable for some without insurance or government support. Diarrhea, skin rash, or liver alterations can also occur, but they are typically less severe than with chemotherapy. Your physician will keep a close eye on you to control these.
India is developing giant leaps when it comes to precision therapy. The best hospitals in the metropolises of Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad have expert oncologists and state-of-the-art facilities to provide this therapy. There is some encouraging research to develop solutions within the country, such as CAR-T cell therapy, wherein a patient’s immune cells are engineered to battle cancer. This could reduce the cost drastically, making it more accessible.
The government and other non-governmental institutions are pushing for better insurance coverage and additional clinical trials to make affordable drugs available. Campaigns also promote early detection, rendering targeted therapy more successful when cancer is at an early detection stage. Providing this treatment to those who need it most will take a mix of actions.
Don’t wait to speak with your physician if you are thinking about targeted therapy. Ask these questions:-
Having a relative with you will remind you of the questions. You can also ask to meet other patients who have undergone it already—their experiences will allay your fear.
Targeted therapy is ushering in a new age in cancer care in India. It’s not for everybody, but for those who can, it is an alternative to combat cancer with less life disruption. With continued research and attempts at cost reduction, more individuals might ultimately be eligible to take advantage of this therapy. If it is something for you, speak with your physician about how it can be integrated into your journey. Cancer is tough, but with tools like targeted therapy, we’re finding more ways to face it with hope.
Category : Targeted Therapy for Cancer
Tags: benefit of targeted therapy , cancer treatment , Chemotherapy , metastatic breast cancer , targeted therapy , Targeted therapy in India
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