Chemotherapy stands as a primary method for targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body. Alongside chemotherapy, another class of medications, known as steroids, frequently plays a supportive role. Steroids, also called corticosteroids when produced in a laboratory, mimic hormones naturally made by the body and are used in various medical contexts. Their inclusion in chemotherapy regimens is a common practice, aiming to improve the treatment experience for patients.
Key Reasons for Steroid Use with Chemotherapy
Steroids are frequently administered with chemotherapy for several important reasons, primarily to alleviate common side effects and enhance the effectiveness of the cancer treatment. They reduce nausea and vomiting, which are significant challenges for many individuals undergoing chemotherapy. Steroids also help in managing inflammation and pain, particularly when tumors cause swelling in sensitive areas like the brain or spinal cord.
Steroids also prevent allergic reactions to certain chemotherapy drugs. Some chemotherapy agents can trigger immune responses, and steroids can help mitigate these reactions, making the treatment safer for patients. These medications stimulate appetite and boost energy levels, which can decline significantly during cancer treatment. These supportive effects contribute to maintaining a better quality of life during chemotherapy.
Beyond their supportive roles, steroids also possess direct anti-cancer effects in certain types of malignancies. For specific blood cancers, such as leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma, steroids are considered part of the chemotherapy regimen itself. They destroy cancer cells and make other anti-cancer medications more effective. The decision to include steroids is carefully considered by the medical team, weighing their benefits against potential considerations.
How Steroids Work to Support Chemotherapy
Their anti-inflammatory capabilities come from their ability to suppress various immune responses, which helps to calm the body’s reaction to the chemotherapy itself or to the presence of tumors. This reduction in inflammation can decrease swelling and associated pain, improving overall patient comfort.
Regarding their anti-nausea effects, corticosteroids operate through several pathways. These include a direct action on specific areas in the brain that control vomiting, such as the solitary tract nucleus. They also interact with neurotransmitters like serotonin, which are involved in triggering nausea. By influencing these systems, steroids help to prevent or reduce the intensity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
In cases of allergic reactions, steroids work by dampening the immune system’s overactive response to chemotherapy agents. They effectively reduce the body’s histamine release and other inflammatory mediators that cause allergic symptoms. For their direct anti-cancer effects in specific blood cancers, steroids are thought to induce programmed cell death in cancer cells and alter their nutrient transport.
Understanding Steroid Treatment and Potential Side Effects
Corticosteroids are the type of steroids most commonly prescribed during cancer treatment, with examples including dexamethasone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone. These medications can be administered in several ways, often as oral tablets or liquid, or through intravenous injections directly into a vein. The method and dose depend on the specific reason for their use and the overall treatment plan.
While steroids offer many benefits, they can also cause various side effects. Common effects include an increase in appetite, which can lead to weight gain, and changes in mood, ranging from increased energy to irritability or difficulty sleeping. Fluid retention is also possible, leading to swelling in different parts of the body.
Steroids can also elevate blood sugar levels, sometimes temporarily leading to conditions resembling diabetes, and may cause stomach irritation, indigestion, or heartburn. Taking these medications with food can help mitigate gastrointestinal discomfort. Due to their immune-suppressing effects, there is an increased risk of infections.
Other potential effects with longer-term use include muscle weakness and bone thinning. It is important to take steroids exactly as prescribed and to avoid stopping them abruptly, especially after a prolonged course. Suddenly discontinuing steroids can lead to withdrawal symptoms and adrenal insufficiency.