Many chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment are designed to kill cells that multiply rapidly – a typical characteristic of cancer cells. However, there are also healthy cells in the body that divide rapidly and they, too, can temporarily fall victim to the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs. This is why the rapidly multiplying cells of hair follicles, the digestive system, and bone marrow can be affected, causing hair loss, nausea, and blood cell deficiencies – side effects that gradually resolve when chemotherapy is finished and healthy cells grow normally again. Even though these side effects are temporary and pale in comparison to the importance of conquering the disease, their impact can be physically debilitating and emotionally distressing. The good news is that for a growing number of patients, the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy are becoming a thing of the past.

Revolutionary advances
Karen Quinlan, RN, MSN, OCN, Director of Cancer Services at the Doylestown Hospital Cancer Center, sees on a daily basis how these remarkable advances are benefiting patients. “What seems revolutionary one year is replaced the next year by something even more effective,” she says. “Biologic drugs like Neulasta and Procrit boost blood cell counts and help to prevent infections and anemia as well as delays in treatment and dose reductions. And new anti-nausea medications – virtual miracle drugs – have minimized chemo-related nausea and vomiting for many of our patients.”

Perhaps the most exciting development of all, though, is the use of highly targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies that zero in on the cells of certain cancers while sparing normal cells. Like an arrow versus a shotgun, these newer treatments deliver cancer-fighting therapy directly to the tumor, with a minimum of exposure to healthy tissue. The result: far fewer side effects to begin with, making treatment more tolerable and less disruptive to everyday life.