Treatments

The chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment are, normally, a combination of different substances suited to each case (cancer, patient, etc.), and can be given intravenously (injected into a vein) or by mouth.

Pharmacology

Each chemotherapeutic agent has a different mechanism and effect on tumors. As result, a treatment by chemotherapy is usually a mixture of two or three different drugs that work together to increase the chances of success. This is called combination chemotherapy.

The combinations used depend on the type of breast cancer and its stage of development. For example, there are specific combinations for initial stage breast cancers that have not spread to other organs, and others for metastatic cancer.

The combination of drugs is also constantly adjusted according to the tumor response and the patient's tolerance to their side effects.