Is It Safe For Me To Get My Cancer Treatment At A Doctors Office Or Hospital During The Coronavirus Pandemic
Health care centers, hospitals, and doctors are doing everything they can to help limit the spread of the virus. This might change some things about your cancer treatment routine.
For instance, you might not be allowed to bring a support person with you into the clinic, you may have to answer a series of questions before youâre allowed into the building, or your treatment may be rescheduled so fewer people get treatment at the same time to allow for safe distances between them.
Some providers are using video conferencing and telemedicine to do visits while also limiting in-person contact. Changes seem to come up every day. Talk to your cancer care provider to find out whatâs best for you.
Immune System Plays Dual Role In Breast Cancer
- Date:
- Leiden, Universiteit
- Summary:
- The immune system plays a paradoxical role in the spread of breast cancer. Some immune cells contribute to metastasis, while other cells can be activated to strengthen the effect of chemotherapy, outlines new research.
The immune system plays a paradoxical role in the spread of breast cancer. Some immune cells contribute to metastasis, while other cells can be activated to strengthen the effect of chemotherapy. Kelly Kersten made this discovery in her PhD research.
Although cancer treatments and therapies are improving all the time, breast cancer remains one of the main causes of death in women, with the majority of these deaths being attributed to the spread of the tumour. ‘We know that the cells of the immune system play a role here, but exactly how that works is still largely unknown,’ Kersten explains. Her research, conducted at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, aims to clarify this process.
Facilitating metastasis
Kersten carried out her research on mice with an invasive form of breast cancer, comparable with the situation in a human being with metastasising breast cancer. ‘We saw that the primary tumour caused an infectious response in the whole body, which makes it easier for metastases to occur.’ Kersten then discovered that a specific type of immune cell, the neutrophil, plays an active role here. The infectious response caused by the tumour causes neutrophils to be produced, which then accumulate,’ Kersten explains.
How Does Radiotherapy Treatment Affecting The Immune System In Relation To Covid
Radiotherapy is the treatment where radiation is used to kill cancer cells and/or shrink the tumour.
There are different types of radiotherapies, the most common ones being:
- External where beams of radiation are carefully aimed at the cancer.
- Implants consist of small pieces of radioactive material that are temporarily inserted around the cancer.
- Oral administration or injections a radioactive liquid that is administrated to the patients either orally or by injection.
- Intrabeam where radiotherapy is delivered immediately after cancer surgery, typically used in breast cancer.
Radiotherapys impact on the immune system is usually lower than chemotherapy. However, there is still a chance that the immune system will be compromised by the radiotherapy treatment, especially if radiation is directed at the bones where the red marrow produces immune cells that enter the blood circulation. Radiotherapy uses radiation to damage cancer cells and, unfortunately, surrounding cells might be damaged as well. If cancer patients are being given a focused radiotherapy treatment that avoids the bones, it is very unlikely this will affect their immune system. However, if the cancer is located near or within the bones, the immune system could be compromised and weakened.
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What Breakthroughs Are Coming Next
When it came to certain types of NK, T and B cells, however, the researchers found chemo had a long-term effect. After nine months, B cells and CD4 T cells had only âpartial recovery,â reaching only 69 percent and 60 percent of pre-chemo levels respectively, potentially leaving patients vulnerable. In smokers, B cell recovery âwas substantially and significantly impaired,â the researchers wrote, reaching only 51 percent of pre-chemo levels after 9 months.
Dr. Steve Pergam, an infectious disease researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and director of infection control at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, said the study results were ânot totally surprising.â
âI think many of us who look at infections do see that there are late infections that occur in patients and we donât always understand why they occur,â he said. âGenerally, the risk we see is in our bone marrow transplant patients. Itâs really well documented that they have a delayed immune recovery after that process. With solid tumor malignancies like breast cancer, this study suggests there are potential similarities to a lesser degree.â
But Pergam was quick to point out that this was a preliminary study, that different chemotherapies have different effects on the immune system and that the therapies used during the study period, June 2011 to January 2012, might be different from therapies used now.
Escaping The Immune System
Immune cells recognise danger through a group of molecules found on the surface of all cells in the body. This helps them inspect potential problems closely and decide whether to attack.
But when a cancer reaches the escape phase it can change. The molecules that would otherwise reveal the cancer to the immune system are lost, and killer T cells move past, unaware of the danger the cancer cell could cause.
Thats a sure-fire way of escaping detection, says Elliott, adding that its one of many escape methods cancer cells use.
Cancer cells also develop ways to inactivate immune cells by producing molecules that make them stop working. They also change their local environment, so it becomes a hostile place for immune cells to work.
Once the tumours have changed their environment, any circulating killer T cells that arrive in this space are rendered inactive, says Elliott.
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Skin And Mucous Membranes
The skin is your bodys largest organ and an important barrier against infections. Its your first line of defense in protecting internal tissues from harmful germs. When theres a break in your skin, its easier for germs to get into your body and cause infection.
Mucous membranes, which form the moist, pink lining layer of the mouth, throat, nose, eyelids, urethra, vagina, and digestive system, also act as partial barriers against infection. These membranes normally help protect us from germs in the air we breathe, our environment, and in our food and drink. Cancer treatments and certain procedures can injure cells in the skin or cause damage to the skin or mucous membranes. This makes it easier for germs to enter the body.
Breast Cancer Radiation Does Not Harm Immune Health
Friday, October 12 -Two less commonly used radiation Early stage treatment breast cancer A pilot study of the health system at the University of Loyola concludes that it adversely affects the patients immune system.
One of the first questions a woman was newly diagnosed with breast cancerHow does radiation affect my body? This study helps alleviate some fears, prepared Dr. Kevin Albakirk, the lead author of radiation oncologists. Said in the statement.
In this study, women who received partial breasts for 5 days Radiation therapy had more energy and better quality of life than women who had whole breasts Radiation therapy .
Researchers pointed out that WBRT was an early stage, small-scale standard treatment.tumor, Node negative breast cancer But in the last five years, PBRT has cancer Centers throughout North America.
The study included 30 women over the age of 45. Breast mass removal Early stage, small tumor, node negative breast cancer.. They were divided into two treatment groups and evaluated 6, 9, and 15 weeks after radiation therapy. It was among the areas where physical, emotional and social health was valued.
In the 9th and 15th weeks, women with PBRT did not perceive much. stressAnalysis of six-week data on changes from baseline showed that women treated with PBRT had improved energy and quality of life compared to women who received WBRT, Albuquerque said. ..
Robert Preidt
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Should My Close Family Members And Caregivers Get A Vaccination Against Covid
Yes, its important that anyone whos eligible for the vaccine gets one. Because neither COVID-19 vaccines contain live virus, family members and caregivers will not expose cancer patients to the virus in any way. However, researchers dont yet know if people who are vaccinated can still pass the virus to those who havent been vaccinated, so its important to protect yourself: keep wearing a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently.
The Effects Of Breast Cancer On The Body
At first, breast cancer affects the breast area only. You may notice changes in your breasts themselves. Other symptoms arent so obvious until you detect them during a self-exam.
Sometimes your doctor may also see breast cancer tumors on a mammogram or other imaging machine before you notice symptoms.
Like other cancers, breast cancer is broken down into stages. Stage 0 is the earliest stage with the fewest noticeable symptoms. Stage 4 indicates the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
If breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it may cause symptoms in those particular areas, too. Affected areas may include the:
- liver
- bones
- brain
The early effects of breast cancer can depend on the exact type of breast cancer you have.
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After Chemotherapy Immune System Recovery May Be Slower Than Believed
Chemo weakens the immune system for up to nine months, especially in smokers, one study finds
Most cancer patients know that chemotherapy weakens their immune systems, putting them at risk for viral and bacterial infections.
A month or two after chemo ends, however, most people assume their immune system has returned to normal. Now, new research suggests that the effects of chemotherapy can compromise part of the immune system for up to nine months after treatment, leaving patients vulnerable to infections â at least when it comes to early-stage breast cancer patients whoâve been treated with a certain type of chemotherapy.
The small, observational study, conducted at the U.K.âs University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust,also demonstrated that smoking exacerbates this effect.
âThis study has demonstrated that the adaptive immune system is altered following chemotherapy for at least nine months post-therapy,â the authors wrote in their study, published Tuesday in the journal Breast Cancer Research. âWe were surprised that the impact of chemotherapy is so long-lived.”
Targeting Cancer Cells With Advanced Radiation Therapy
Advances in stereotactic radiation therapy and technology are helping the Radiation Oncology team at UT Southwestern’s Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center deliver more effective and less invasive treatments to patients. Nina Sanford, M.D., provides a behind-the-scenes look at the life-changing options.
In general, dietary supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They are not tested for effectiveness or safety in the same way as medications or prescribed treatments. So, we can’t fully predict how supplements and vitamins will interact with or reduce the effectiveness of prescribed treatments, including radiation therapy.
A recently published study showed that women with breast cancer who took supplements in addition to treatment had higher risk of their cancer coming back. I also published a study in 2019 showing that nearly a third of patients with cancer who were using complementary and alternative therapies such as dietary supplements did not discuss it with their doctors.
No matter how beneficial a supplement might seem, its important to let your provider know about it, so we can best advise you on weighing potential risks and benefits.
4. Will radiation change the way I look?
Most patients dont need to worry about long-term dermatological issues after radiation treatment, but we generally advise them to use good sun protection and to keep their skin moisturized to minimize risk.
5. Can I continue to work and exercise during treatment?
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Weakened Immune Defenses To Infection
While different tumor types in the study had different effects on the immune system, a common feature identified by the researchers was diminishment of the immune systems capacity to mount a new immune response, an important consideration for fighting infection as well as cancer.
People with cancer are known to have weaker responses to both infection and vaccination, but it has been unclear to what extent this may be due to immunosuppressive effects of treatment rather than the cancer itself. The new UCSF study bolsters the evidence that cancer, before any treatment, can weaken the immune systems response to infection: the researchers found that mice with cancer had weakened immune responses to both viral and bacterial infection.
Cancer immunotherapy is most effective in patients whose immune systems are already mounting an immune response the treatment needs to be able to stimulate preexisting immune system cells, especially killer T cells, in order to boost their ability to effectively attack tumor cells. However, the new research suggests that many tumors may render these treatments less effective by systemically reducing the number of immune cells available to be stimulated. Our results demonstrate an unappreciated impairment of new cellular immune responses in the context of cancer, Spitzer said.
Funding: National Institutes of Health, UCSF Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.
Does Being On Hormone Therapy Increase The Risk Of Covid
Hormones are a class of signalling molecules produced and released by various glands in the body that regulate the activity of cells or organs. Hormones are essential for the correct function of many bodily functions such as blood sugar levels, sleep cycles, growth and mood balance. However, the growth of some cancers is increased by specific hormones. One example is prostate cancer, where the hormone testosterone accelerates the cancer growth.
Whether a hormone treatment might increase the cancer patient’s probability of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 will depend on the specific hormone treatment.Hormone therapy uses medicines to block the production and/or function of specific hormones to delay the growth of the cancer. In the case of prostate cancer, there are various medicines that block the production of testosterone. Usually, prostate cancer patients are offered hormone treatments such as anti-androgen tablets, which are considered standard hormone therapy treatments for prostate cancer and help to control the development of the cancer. If applied in combination with other cancer treatments such as radiotherapy, hormone treatments can dramatically improve the overall efficacy of the cancer treatment.
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Immune System Takes Long Time To Recover After Breast Cancer Chemo
New research that looks at the long-term effects of chemotherapy on breast cancer survivors finds it weakens parts of the immune system for at least 9 months after treatment. This could leave patients with insufficient resilience to common infections, such as pneumonia and tetanus, even if they were immunized previously, say the researchers.
The study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research comes from the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK.
One of the senior authors, Thomas Hughes, an associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Leeds, says:
We were surprised that the impact of chemotherapy is so long lived.
He and his colleagues suggest the findings indicate breast cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy would likely benefit from post-treatment monitoring.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and claims over half a million lives worldwide every year, note the authors.
Typical treatment for primary tumors involves surgery to remove the tumor, combined with other therapies, such as hormone therapy, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. Around 30% of breast cancer patients receive chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy drugs work by attacking cells that divide quickly, which is what cancer cells do. But other cells such as those in the bone marrow where white blood cells are made also divide quickly and are likely to be affected by chemotherapy.
Top Radiation Therapy Questions Andanswers
1. WillI be radioactive during or after treatment?
Some patients worry that undergoing radiationtherapy can be harmful to others because they are radioactive. For example,patients sometimes think they can’t cuddle with their partner or hold a grandchildon their lap until after treatment. However, most patients dont need to worryabout being radioactive.
External beam radiation therapy is the mostcommon type of treatment, and true to its name, it delivers radiation from asource outside the body. With this approach, you dont need to worry aboutcontact with family members or other people you encounter. Once youre finishedin the treatment room, there is no more radiation being delivered and you arenot radioactive.
With internalradiation therapy , your radiation oncologist will place a smallradiation source inside the body. One example is the use of radioactive beadsplaced inside the prostateto deliver radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
Related reading:Treating prostatecancer with radiation
For some types of treatments termed high-doserate brachytherapy, the source remains in place for a few minutes at atime and is removed once you leave the procedure room you are not radioactivein these scenarios.
2. Willradiation treatment harm my immune system?
3. ShouldI take any supplements or vitamins during treatment?
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Take Care While Your Body Recovers From Chemo
In the meantime, Pergam said patients may want to be mindful that post-chemo, the bodyâs immune system is still repairing itself.
âThis isnât saying you canât go back to leading a normal life,â he said. âI donât want people to socially isolate themselves. You just need to be more cautious and make sure you get your preventive care.â
He also offered the following chemo recovery tips:
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Diane Mapes is a staff writer at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She has written extensively about health issues for NBC News, TODAY, CNN, MSN, Seattle Magazine and other publications. A breast cancer survivor, she also writes the breast cancer blog doublewhammied.com. Reach her at .