How do I know if my cancer treatment is working?

After being diagnosed with cancer, the doctor will choose the most appropriate treatment for each patient. However, each person's body will respond to cancer treatment in a different way. So how do you know if the treatment is effective?

Cancer cells are usually located deep inside the body. So the patient will not be able to see or feel when the tumor shrinks or grows larger. To see how well cancer treatment is working, your doctor will do tests periodically, several months apart, during your treatment.
These tests show where the cancer is in the body, has it grown larger, stayed the same size, or shrunk? Based on the test results, the doctor will decide whether to continue with the patient's current cancer treatment or to try another method.
Patients will have to see their cancer doctor for regular check-ups and follow-up. These follow-up visits even continue for months or years after treatment ends.
At each visit, the doctor will check to see if the patient's tumor has returned or spread further. The patient will also be monitored for any long-term side effects of the treatment.

Some tests will help the doctor determine whether the current cancer treatment regimen that the patient is applying is effective or not. Some of these tests are similar to those used to diagnose cancer. Specifically:
Blood tests : Helps check levels of various substances in the blood, such as enzymes or proteins released by cancer cells or organs as tumors grow; Tumor Markers: As tumors grow, they release proteins, enzymes, and other chemicals. The doctor can test the patient's blood, urine, or tissue for signs of these substances, which can help determine how far the tumor has progressed; X-rays: This test uses low doses of radiation to create images of internal structures. X-rays help find cancer cells in the body and see if the tumor has spread to the bones;

CT scan (computerized tomography): This test uses powerful X-rays to create detailed images that help see where cancer cells are located in the patient's body; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create images of organs and structures in the body, helping to detect tumor sites; PET emission tomography: The patient is given a radioactive substance that is absorbed by cancer cells in the body. This substance causes the tumor to show up on the images. The more effective the cancer treatment regimen, the fewer areas that glow on the image; Mammography: This test uses low-energy X-rays to look for cancer cells in the breast; Depending on the type of cancer and treatment, the doctor will decide the type and frequency of testing for each patient.

Your doctor may use one of the following words to describe how cancer cells respond after being treated:
Partial response / partial remission: Means the tumor size of the disease kernel has decreased by at least 50%, but still exists; Complete response / complete remission: Means all tests no longer find cancer cells. It is more likely that the patient has been cured, but it is still uncertain. If the tumor is too small, tests won't find it; Stable: Means the patient's cancer remains the same, not getting worse, but not getting better either; Advanced: Means the tumor has grown or spread. Patients may need to switch cancer treatments for better tumor control.

Everyone will react differently to the same treatment, but in general the doctor will do his best to remove as many cancer cells as possible.
Not all cancer treatments are equally effective. For example, surgery removes all or most of the tumor at once, but the patient may need radiation for several weeks or months afterward to destroy all of the malignant cells.
If the patient has to have surgery, the doctor will remove some healthy tissue around the tumor to make sure there are no cancer cells left. The surgeon may also remove some of the lymph nodes located near the tumor. After surgery, patients still need to have regular blood tests and imaging tests to see if cancer cells are still in the body.
Similar to other measures such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy, patients will also have blood tests, X-rays and other imaging tests. This helps doctors determine if current cancer treatment regimens are slowing tumor growth or killing all cancer cells.

The following symptoms may warn that cancer cells have returned or spread further after treatment:
A new tumor appears or is growing under the skin; Pain that doesn't get better or gets worse; Lost weight; Nausea or vomiting; Continuous fever. In addition, signs that cancer cells have spread to other organs in the body are:
Bones : Pain in bones, joints or broken bones; Brain: Headache, seizures, dizziness, confusion or vision changes; Lungs: Cough, shallow breathing or difficulty breathing; Liver: Abdominal pain, itching, yellowing of the eyes or skin. However, some of these symptoms can also be side effects of cancer treatment. To know for sure if cancer cells are growing or coming back, patients need to see a specialist for an examination and examination.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has been and continues to be fully equipped with modern diagnostic facilities such as: PET/CT, SPECT/CT, MRI... biology, immunohistochemistry, genetic testing, molecular biology testing, as well as a full range of targeted drugs, the most advanced immunotherapy drugs in cancer treatment. Multimodal cancer treatment from surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy in cancer treatment, new treatments such as autoimmunotherapy body, heat therapy...
After having an accurate diagnosis of the disease and stage, the patient will be consulted to choose the most appropriate and effective treatment methods. The treatment process is always closely coordinated with many specialties: Diagnostic Imaging, Biochemistry, Immunology, Cardiology, Stem Cell and Gene Technology; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Endocrinology, Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Psychology, Department of Nutrition... to bring the highest efficiency and comfort to patients. After undergoing the treatment phase, the patient will also be monitored and re-examined to determine whether the cancer treatment is effective or not.
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, please book an appointment on the website for service.
Reference source: webmd.com