Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer medicines. Chemotherapy is toxic to cancer cells more than to normal cells. The medicine stops the cancer cells from growing and therefore reduces the size or number of tumours.
Usually, several courses of chemotherapy medicines are needed to help remove as much of the cancer cells as possible, while the normal cells are allowed to recover in-between chemotherapy treatments. In this way, maximum benefit can be achieved while limiting side effects.
Chemotherapy medicines used in the treatment of cancer may be taken as tablets or, more commonly, given by intravenous drip directly into a vein. Central venous access is often used to improve drug administration when given into your veins (intravenously). Growth factors can be injected after chemotherapy, if required to speed up blood count recovery. This is important in keeping cancer therapy on track, and preventing delays.
This treatment is available at all Mater Cancer Care Centres.
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your body’s own immune system to fight the cancer cells. The immunotherapy treatment alerts your immune system to the cancer to ensure your body can mount a defence against it. These medicines can also reactivate the immune system to fight the cancer. Immunotherapies are a newer form of cancer treatment and are not available for every diagnosis yet. Immunotherapy can be given either on its own or with chemotherapy to give your body the best chance of fighting the cancer.
This type of treatment is available at all Mater Cancer Care Centres.
Targeted therapies are medicines that block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules in your body. Unlike traditional chemotherapy the targeted therapy medicines launch an attack only on specific targets like an enzyme or protein. Similarly to immunotherapy, these medicines can be given with chemotherapy or alone.
This treatment is available at all Mater Cancer Care Centres.
Radiotherapy uses x-rays to kill cancer cells as cancer cells are generally more sensitive to radiation than normal cells. These x-rays can be used to more specifically target cancer sites in your body and help to reduce the size or kill the tumours.
Radiotherapy is also an effective treatment for the relief of conditions related to some advanced cancers e.g. Bone pain caused by the cancer, cancer related fractures and for when tumours may be pressing on the spinal cord.
Treatment is carefully planned to do as little harm as possible to normal body tissues. Radiotherapy is generally given in multiple small doses to reduce toxicity to normal tissues.
This treatment is provided by the Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Raymond Terrace (ROPART). ROPART also works with a large team of medical, nursing and allied health staff to support you through your radiotherapy journey.
For further information please contact:
Radiation Oncology Princess Alexandra Hospital Raymond Terrace (ROPART)
Raymond Terrace
South Brisbane Qld 4101
(opposite Mater Cancer Care Centre Brisbane)
Telephone 07 3840 3255
Mater Cancer Care also provides apheresis treatments. These procedures are used to treat a wide range of medical conditions. Apheresis is a process in which a machine is used to collect, remove or replace a component of your circulating blood that may be responsible for your medical condition.
For example: to treat sickle disease, or collect stem cells for an Autologous Transplant.
The procedures are:
- plasma exchange
- red cell exchange
- leukopheresis
- peripheral stem cell collections.
Apheresis is currently only available in South Brisbane.
Most commonly autologous transplants are used to treat blood cancers.
To do this, you will initially receive chemotherapy (with or without immunotherapy) to control the blood cancer. After this your stem cells will then be collected by the apheresis machine. The collected stem cells are frozen in the stem cell laboratory (cryopreserved) until you are ready to receive your stem cells back. Just before receiving your stem cells you will need to be admitted to hospital to receive additional chemotherapy to prepare your body. You will stay in hospital for a recovery period after the transplant before heading home. This treatment is planned carefully with a haematologist to best treat your disease.
This treatment is currently only available at Mater Cancer Care Centre Brisbane.
Clinical trials are also conducted in the treatment of malignant and non-malignant haematology diagnoses. If trial therapies are suitable for you, your doctor will discuss these options with you.