Oncologic diseases, or cancer, can be treated with local treatments (surgery and radiotherapy) and systemic treatments, such as chemotherapy, where medication with marked toxic effect on tumour cells is used, thus destroying them. Now, if “cancer carries a certain stigma, so does chemotherapy, with a number of patients resisting to this treatment”, stated Sónia Rego on Porto Canal, during the TV show “Consultório”, broadcasted on May17. “Unfortunately, some still say ‘I rather die than submitting to chemotherapy’”, referred the Hospital da Luz oncologist, thus defending that patients should place all the questions they may have, in order to be duly enlightened by doctors. “The truth is that cancer is an aggressive disease and to fight it, we must use aggressive medication. But these treatments are necessary and their effectiveness has been proven through scientific studies”, she highlighted. “Typically, the group of medical professionals dedicated to the oncologic treatment gathers and, based on the latest scientific guidance and the characteristics of the tumour, they establish the most adequate therapeutic orientation for the patient (depending, for instance, on age, the presence of other diseases, etc.). When doctors suggest chemotherapy, they are already weighing the risk and the benefit, being convinced that the benefit outweighs the risk. Many times, chemotherapy does have side effects, but which the patient can easily overcome, if he is duly prepared for it by the medical team ”, she further explained. What types of chemotherapy are there? What is the difference between oral chemotherapy and intravenous chemotherapy? Does it make you fat? Does the hair always fall? Does it cause infertility? These were some of the questions covered by Sónia Rego along the interview. Sónia Rego on Porto Canal
