Radiochemotherapy is a form of treatment for cancer. It combines radiotherapy with chemotherapy. The combination of both procedures is particularly suitable for some types of tumor. In this case, the advantages of radiotherapy and chemotherapy complement each other. They can thus enhance their effect and increase the chances of cure for malignant tumors.
Here you will find further information as well as selected specialists and centers for radiochemotherapy.
Radiochemotherapy is a non-surgical procedure for the treatment of certain types of cancer. It combines radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The active principle of radiotherapy is to direct high-energy radiation specifically at a tumor. Cancer cells react more sensitively to such radiation than healthy cells. The radiation damages the tumor tissue, which then dies. This can cause the tumor to shrink
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs (known as cytostatics). They prevent the rapidly dividing tumor cells throughout the body from dividing further. The tumor cells die as a result.
Radiochemotherapy combines chemotherapy with radiotherapy, as seen here © Monkey Business | AdobeStock
Some tumors are suitable for a combined application of both procedures. It has been found that radiochemotherapy is more effective for these tumors than the separate application of these two treatment concepts.
Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy are often used to combat a tumor. However, they are not used simultaneously, but one after the other, i.e. sequentially.
In simultaneous radiochemotherapy, the patient is treated simultaneously with coordinated radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patient often visits a radiochemotherapy clinic for this.
Tumor cells that may be insensitive to chemotherapy can be killed by radiation - and vice versa. There are also chemotherapeutic agents that make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation.
All these effects significantly increase the chances of curing certain tumors. At the same time, the risk of metastases in other organs and recurrences is reduced. Recurrences are new formations of tumors that have already been treated.
Radiochemotherapy is suitable for cancers that react sensitively to radiation and cytostatics. These include, for example
Radiochemotherapy can increase the chances of a cure or at least prolong life.
Another advantage of simultaneous radiochemotherapy is that treatment is completed after six to eight weeks. With sequential radiochemotherapy, treatment can last for six months.
The patient is therefore less physically and temporally burdened.
Radiochemotherapy specialists are usually specialists in radiation oncology. They work on an interdisciplinary basis with experts from other disciplines (e.g. oncology) at specialized radiochemotherapy clinics (radiation clinics).
Instead of the radiotherapy clinic, the treatment can also be carried out under the direction of the radiochemotherapy/radiation oncology specialist at a chemotherapy clinic.
Simultaneous radiochemotherapy follows a defined schedule. It can vary from tumor to tumor and severity of the disease. One possible treatment plan is, for example, radiotherapy five days a week for six weeks. In the first and fifth week, the patient can also receive chemotherapy on all five days of radiotherapy.
Radiochemotherapy is often used as a preparatory or follow-up treatment for surgery. It should then either
Radiochemotherapy is rarely used on its own, i.e. without surgery before or after. This is referred to as definitive radiochemotherapy.
Possible side effects are the same as those that occur with chemotherapy and radiotherapy alone. They vary from person to person and depend on
Chemotherapy can cause, among other things
and hair loss. Scarring (radiation fibrosis) occurs relatively frequently during radiotherapy.
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