You may have questions about targeted therapy as part of your cancer treatment. Here are answers to common questions, but your cancer care team can provide more details about your specific situation.
Learn more about:
- Will targeted therapy work?
- How do I get targeted therapy?
- How much will it cost?
- How is targeted therapy given?
- What side effects will I have?
- How will I know if targeted therapy is working?
Will targeted therapy work?
The cancer must contain the particular target or the drug won’t work. The response to targeted therapy varies widely. In some cancers, 4 out of 5 people assessed as suitable for a particular targeted therapy drug will respond. For other cancers, the rate of success is much lower. This is due to a range of factors, including how many of the cancer cells carry the target.
Cancer cells can eventually stop responding to a targeted therapy drug even if it works at first. If this happens, you may be offered another targeted therapy drug or a different type of treatment. Less commonly, a targeted therapy drug may cause serious side effects and the treatment plan will need to be adjusted (e.g. a lower dose or different drug may be tried).
How do I get targeted therapy?
Ask your cancer specialist if there is a suitable targeted therapy for you. This will depend on the type and stage of the cancer. Your specialist may also need to test the cancer to see if one of the currently available drugs is an option. If you have not already had surgery or a biopsy, you may need to have a biopsy so a tissue sample can be collected.
Many more targeted therapy and other new drugs are being studied in clinical trials. Talk with your specialist about the latest developments and whether there are any trials that might be right for you.
Learn more about clinical trials and research.
How much will it cost?
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) covers most of the cost of many prescription medicines, including some targeted therapy drugs. Medicines not on the PBS are usually expensive, but you may be able to receive them as part of a clinical trial or at a reduced cost through a compassionate access program.
How is targeted therapy given?
Targeted therapy is usually prescribed by a medical oncologist or haematologist. It may be given on its own or combined with chemotherapy or other types of cancer drugs.
Treatment schedules and protocols
Some targeted therapy drugs are given in repeating cycles, with rest periods in between. Others are taken every day without any breaks.
Cancer treatments are usually given in line with protocols that set out which drugs to have, how much and how often. Your specialist may need to adjust the protocols to your individual situation. You can find information about protocols for targeted therapy and other cancer drugs at eviq.org.au.
How targeted therapy is given
Targeted therapy is given in different ways:
- as tablets or capsules that you can swallow
- as an intravenous (IV) infusion into a vein, either through a drip in your arm or into a port (a small device inserted under the skin of the chest or arm)
- as an injection under the skin.
Possible reactions to infusions
When targeted therapy is given as an infusion, some people react to the infusion process (e.g. skin rashes, nausea, difficulty breathing). Reactions can occur during the infusion or several hours afterwards. You will be monitored and may be given medicines to help prevent this. Reactions are more common with the first couple of infusions, so they may be given at a slower rate than later treatments.
Duration of treatment
How long you have targeted therapy depends on the aim of the treatment, how the cancer responds and any side effects you may have. In many cases, targeted therapy tablets or capsules need to be taken daily for many months or even years. Your treatment team can give you more details.
Safety precautions at home
In some cases, you may need to take special precautions to protect other people in your household while you are having targeted therapy. Talk to your doctor about any safety measures that you may need to take.
Targeted therapy drugs can interact with many common medicines and cause harmful side effects. It is important to let your doctor know about any other medicines or vitamin or herbal supplements you are taking so they can check for any known problems. It is also a good idea to talk with your cancer specialist before having any vaccinations.
What side effects will I have?
Read about common side effects and how they are managed.
How will I know if the targeted therapy is working?
You will have regular check-ups with your doctor, blood tests and different types of scans to see whether the cancer has responded to treatment with targeted therapy.
A good response from targeted therapy will make a cancer shrink or even disappear completely from scans.
In some cases, the cancer remains stable, which means it doesn’t grow in size on scans, but also does not shrink or disappear. People with stable disease can live for a long time and have a good quality of life.
→ READ MORE: Managing side effects of targeted therapy
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A/Prof Rohit Joshi, Medical Oncologist, Calvary Central Districts and Lyell McEwin Hospital, and Director, Cancer Research SA; Jenny Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner – Breast Oncology, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Jon Graftdyk, Consumer; Sinead Hanley, Consumer; Lisa Hann, 13 11 20 Consultant, SA; Dr Malinda Itchins, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Gay Refeld, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Care, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Prof Benjamin Solomon, Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Helen Westman, Lung Cancer Nurse Consultant, Respiratory Medicine and Sleep Department, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW
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