Treatment Decisions Flashcards
Malignant disease can be managed by systemic and local treatment
systemic:
Chemotherapy
Hormone ‘’
Biological’’
local: RT and surgery
What factors are used to decide what treatment to give?
TUMOUR FACTORS
site of disease
stage
grade
What factors are used to decide what treatment to give?
PATIENT FACTORS
General condition
Co-morbidities
Patient preference
Curative or Radical treatment
treatment given to improve survival which will / may cure
Curative or Radical treatment: aim
to cure the patient of their disease
Palliative treatment
given to locally advanced or metastatic disease,
which is incurable
to improve QoL and may include prolonging the length of life as a secondary benefit.
Palliative treatment aim
To control and reduce tumour bulk,
To relieve symptoms,
Timing of treatment: Adjuvant
treatment given after another treatment modality eg surgery
Adjuvant aim
Destroy any early, undetectable disseminated cancer cells (micrometastases)
Improve survival or prevent recurrence of the disease
Neoadjuvant
treatment given before the definitive treatment
Neoadjuvant aim
: to reduce tumour bulk therefore allowing to complete surgical resection
downstage the tumour
Prophylactic treatment
medication/treatment used as a preventive measure.
