Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments

When you start your Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment you will be given a physical copy of the Cancer Research UK, ‘Cancer Drug Treatment’ booklet. You can use this to help track your treatment and progress. This will be discussed with you by the oncology team, however a digital copy is available here: Your Cancer Treatment Record Book - downloadable version.pdf

The following are types of Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments which may be recommended to you:

Chemotherapy

Different types of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat different cancers and can be administered in different ways and at different points in your treatment pathway.

Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells by interfering with their ability to divide and grow. Cancer cells divide and grow in a different and uncontrolled way and chemotherapy drugs can interfere with the cancer cells to change the way they grow.

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment; meaning this affects the whole body.

Chemotherapy prior to surgery is known as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy after surgery is known as adjuvant chemotherapy.

For information on the different medications used to treat different cancers, visit Macmillan Cancer Support’s website where you will be able to find information on the medication you have been prescribed via their ‘A to Z list of cancer drugs’.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: Cancer drugs A to Z list.

The NHS website has useful information via the following links to explain the process of chemotherapy: What happens during chemotherapy.

Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your chemotherapy treatment:

Cancer Research UK:

Chemotherapy tablets and capsules

Late side effects of chemotherapy | Cancer in general | Cancer Research UK

About sex and chemotherapy | Cancer in general | Cancer Research UK

Fertility and chemotherapy | Cancer in general | Cancer Research UK

Chemotherapy Safety At Home | Cancer In General | Cancer Research UK

Macmillan Cancer Support:

Chemotherapy side effects | Macmillan Cancer Support

Sex and cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

Coping with hair loss

Coping with fatigue (tiredness)

Side effects of cancer treatment

Cancer and fertility – information for women

Cancer and fertility – information for men

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy medication works alongside the immune system to help it fight cancer cells. Doctors will conduct a biopsy to test the cancer cells to determine which medication is most suitable, depending on your diagnosis.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: Cancer drugs A to Z list.

The Cancer Research UK website has useful information via the following links to explain the process of immunotherapy:

What is immunotherapy| Cancer Research UK
Types of immunotherapy| Cancer Research UK

Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your immunotherapy treatment:

Macmillan Cancer Support:

Chemotherapy side effects | Macmillan Cancer Support

Sex and cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

Coping with hair loss

Coping with fatigue (tiredness)

Side effects of cancer treatment

Cancer and fertility – information for women

Cancer and fertility – information for men

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapies (or biological therapies) only work on particular types of cancer. Doctors will do a biopsy to test some of your cancer cells to check for specific mutations as target therapy medications are more effective against particular mutations. If the biopsy shows you have the specific mutation, then the targeted therapy medication may work for you. These work by stopping the chemical process in cells which cause the cancer cells to divide and grow. This differs from chemotherapy which kills the cancer cells.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: Cancer drugs A to Z list.

Macmillan Cancer Support’s website has useful information via the following link to explain the process of targeted therapy.

Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your targeted therapy treatment:

Macmillan Cancer Support:

Chemotherapy side effects | Macmillan Cancer Support

Sex and cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

Coping with hair loss

Coping with fatigue (tiredness)

Side effects of cancer treatment

Cancer and fertility – information for women

Cancer and fertility – information for men

Hormone Therapy

Hormones are natural substances within the body which act like messengers between different parts of your body. Hormone Therapy (also known as Endocrine Therapy) can use the hormones within your body as a way of slowing down or stopping certain cancers growing.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: Cancer drugs A to Z list.

The Cancer Research UK website has useful information via the following links to explain the process of hormone therapy: Hormone therapy for cancer.

Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your hormone therapy treatment:

Side effects of hormone therapy in men | Cancer Research UK
Side effects of hormone therapy in women | Cancer Research UK

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy affects normal cells as well, but they are able to repair themselves more readily. Radiotherapy can destroy and shrink cancerous growths and is very effective in preventing cancer cells reappearing after surgery.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer Radiotherapy at Salisbury District Hospital, so patients are referred to Southampton, Poole, Basingstoke or Bath.

University Hospital Southampton provide the following useful information, to explain the process of radiotherapy:

Radiotherapy treatment - patient information (uhs.nhs.uk)
At the end of your radiotherapy treatment - patient information (uhs.nhs.uk)

Important information during treatment:

The following links provide information which you may find useful, during your radiotherapy treatment:

Side effects of radiotherapy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Long term side effects of radiotherapy | Cancer treatment | Cancer Research UK

Supportive medications

Other treatments can be used alongside your chosen cancer treatments to help with potential side effects. These include the following and Macmillan provide information on each via the links:

Erythropoietin: Side effects of Erythropoietin | Macmillan Cancer Support

G-CSF: G-CSF (Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) | Macmillan Cancer Support

Nephrostomy: Nephrostomy | Macmillan Cancer Support

Steroids: Steroids | Macmillan Cancer Support

Bishosphonates: Bisphosphonates and cancer - drugs to strengthen bones | Macmillan Cancer Support

What if I am unwell after receiving cancer treatment?

If you are an existing patient receiving chemotherapy treatment and you have a temperature, feel unwell, or need advice on chemotherapy side effects or complications – please contact the 24-hour hotline on 01722 341930.

Please visit the Acute Oncology section for more information.

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