TARGETED THERAPY

Targeted therapies has always been part of any anti-cancer strategy but only in recent years, have these really took off due to rapid advances in research and approval by health bodies for the use of these drugs. They target specific genes or cell receptors that control growth and spread of the cancer cells. By blocking these actions, the cells effectively stop growing and eventually get destroyed in the body. They have been proven to prolong life in more and more types of cancers such as lung, liver, breast, colon, kidney and skin (melanoma).

They usually come in the form of oral therapy such as tablets or capsules. Certain formulations are designed to be administered as injections or infusions along with chemotherapy to increase effectiveness. They have very few side effects and these usually come in the form of rash or diarrhoea which are very manageable.