CHEMOTHERAPY
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What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. How does chemotherapy work? Chemotherapy drugs stop cells that grow and divide quickly. Although cancer cells grow and divide quickly, so do many other normal cells in the body, which is why healthy cells are also affected by chemotherapy. The damage to healthy cells can result in side effects, but they tend to improve after chemotherapy has stopped. When is chemotherapy given? • As a first-line treatment for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread outside the prostate. This is usually alongside standard first-line hormone treatment • In men who have advanced prostate cancer that has stopped responding to hormone treatments When is chemotherapy not given? • If you are not fit to have chemotherapy • In men who have localised prostate cancer • It is rarely given to men who have locally advanced prostate cancer What drugs are used? In the UK the most common chemotherapy drugs that are used are docetaxel or carbazitaxel. Docetaxel is usually the first drug that is used in combination with a steroid, such as prednisolone. When this drug stops working, carbazitaxel may be considered. How is Chemotherapy given? These drugs are injected into a vein as an infusion over a period of about an hour. You will normally be sitting in a comfortable chair during this time in the out-patient chemotherapy department. This means that you do not need to stay in the hospital. There is no tablet form of docetaxel. The dose is calculated based on individual patient factors. 116
FIGHTING PROSTATE CANCER - A SURVIVAL GUIDE
