3.5 Antineoplastic Therapies

Antineoplastic treatments for cancer include chemotherapy, hormonal and biologic therapies, and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapies are generally used to treat all sites of cancer throughout the body and are not used specifically pain. However, when the cause of cancer pain is direct tumor involvement, antineoplastic treatments may produce analgesia if they cause significant tumor shrinkage.

The major goal of antineoplastic treatment is either to cure by complete elimination of the cancer or, in situations in which cure is not possible, to prolong life and to achieve palliation of the tumor symptoms. Most important, the patient and clinician should discuss openly and thoroughly the expected goals and potential side effects of these therapies.

Related Chunks

Rectal

Transdermal

Nasal

Adjuvant Drugs

Corticosteroids

Anticonvulsants

Antidepressants

Neuroleptic Agents

Index