Dipika remains cancer-free, but her situation remains serious due to the aggressive nature of the tumour (Pic: Instagram/iStock)
Dipika Kakkar is set to begin her targeted therapy a month after she underwent surgery for liver cancer. The television actor was diagnosed with stage 2 liver cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
The 38-year-old actor remains cancer-free, but her husband recently revealed that the situation remains serious due to the aggressive nature of the tumour. “Earlier, we thought that maybe if the tumour was removed, everything would be fine. As far as the body is concerned, there are currently no cancer cells present,” Shoaib Ibrahim said in a vlog on YouTube. “However, the biopsy report that we received and the PET scan we reviewed indicated a more serious situation. The tumour was classified as grade three and poorly differentiated, which means it was quite aggressive. There are high chances of the cancer reoccurring,” he added.
The actor has earlier revealed that doctors discovered a tumour “the size of a tennis ball” in her liver after she experienced severe abdominal pain. Shoaib said the targeted therapy treatment will start this week for a period of two years, with fortnightly scans to view the progress.
What is targeted therapy?
Targeted therapy is a kind of cancer treatment that destroys cancer cells without harming healthy ones. In targeted therapy, oncologists identify specific genetic changes or mutations in your body that turn normal cells into cancer cells. Then, they select treatments that target the specific parts of the cancer cells that the genetic abnormalities activate. According to oncologists, targeted therapy is a type of precision medicine.
Cancer begins when something rewrites healthy cells’ genetic instruction book. Following the new genetic instructions shows how healthy cells become cancer cells. To use targeted therapy, oncologists typically research genetic mutations that change a healthy cell into a cancer cell and focus on the cell’s surface or substances inside the cell.
There are many different types of targeted therapy, which are classified as:
- Small-molecule drugs that focus on targets inside cancer cells and disrupt growth
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Immunotherapies like monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, and CAR T cell therapy.
- Antibody-drug conjugates
What happens during targeted therapy?
Doctors say there are more than 100 kinds of targeted therapy drugs, and you may receive them through:
- A pill that you swallow
- In a shot
- Through an IV
Your treatment schedule will vary depending on the targeted therapy drugs you receive. The doctors will conduct regular blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, and other tests.
Are there any side effects of targeted therapy?
Doctors say a few side effects of targeted therapy do vary, but some common ones include:
- Bleeding in your stomach or intestines, which may cause changes in your poop like bright red blood or black tarry poop
- Blood clots
- Recurrent diarrhoea
- Dry skin and rashes
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Heart conditions, like arrhythmias
- High blood pressure
- Loss of hair colour
-
Pulmonary fibrosis
- Wounds, cuts, or injuries that heal slowly
