Catherine, The Princess of Wales revealed she received a cancer diagnosis post-abdominal surgery, opting for 'preventative' chemotherapy. In a Kensington Palace video, she disclosed her cancer diagnosis, starting preventative chemotherapy in late February following abdominal surgery in January, initially thought to be non-cancerous.
Preventative Chemotherapy Explained
Chemotherapy refers to cancer treatment involving the eradication of cancerous cells; however, Kate Middleton specifically mentioned "preventative chemotherapy." Although the term isn't officially recognized by the NHS, it typically involves adjuvant chemotherapy, which aims to eradicate microscopic cancer cells post-surgery and minimize recurrence risk, according to Dr. Katherine Van Loon.
Dr. Jeremy Jones highlights that studies demonstrate its effectiveness in reducing cancer recurrence, underscoring its standard application across various cancer types. As of now, details regarding Kate's cancer diagnosis and treatment remain undisclosed.
On the other hand, "chemoprevention" is an existing treatment method aimed at reducing cancer risk or recurrence in healthy individuals, such as those with a family history of breast cancer.
In the 2021-22 period, over 320,000 individuals received cancer treatment through the NHS, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which target cancer cells to impede their growth and division. The Royal Marsden specialists note the use of "adjuvant therapy" post-surgery or radiotherapy to eliminate residual cancer cells.
Other chemotherapy types include "neo-adjuvant therapy" administered pre-surgery or radiotherapy to shrink tumors, "peri-operative therapy" before and after surgery, and "palliative therapy" to alleviate symptoms in advanced cancer stages.
The World Health Organization outlines "preventive chemotherapy" as a public health strategy, administering mass medicines to whole populations to prevent specific diseases like lymphatic filariasis.
Implementation of preventive chemotherapy involves complementary public health interventions and relies on large-scale medicine donations by pharmaceutical industries. From 2015 to 2019, over one billion individuals annually received preventive chemotherapy for diseases amenable to the intervention, facilitated by sustained international support and increased medicine donations.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy Shorter Than Other Cancer Treatment
When surgery successfully removes all visible signs of cancer, doctors have a variety of potent drugs available for adjuvant chemotherapy, typically administered in standard doses, as explained by Dr. Jones. Meanwhile.
Director of women's health research at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Beth Karlan, highlights that adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, though typically shorter than those for advanced cancer treatment, usually extend for a minimum of three months. She underscores that these courses can either entail hospital-based infusion or administration through a portable pump at home.
Dr. Karlan underscores the significant impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on overall survival, potentially extending life for years or even leading to a cure, fostering hope for the princess and others.
Professor Lawrence Young adds that the type and duration of chemotherapy depend on factors like cancer type and stage, with common side effects including fatigue, nausea, infection risk, and appetite loss. Detecting cancer incidentally during surgery often means it's at an early stage, increasing the effectiveness of subsequent chemotherapy.
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