First-line treatment is the one that, for most people, is expected to provide the best results with the fewest number of side effects. In contrast, second-line treatments are used when the first-line treatment failed to improve a cancer, or if it worked for a while and then the cancer progressed, and tend to be less effective.
Full Answer
What is first-line vs second-line therapy for cancer?
First-Line vs Second-Line Therapy for Cancer. Updated November 28, 2018. istockphoto.com. First-line treatment or therapy simply refers to the initial, or first treatment recommended for a disease or illness. They may also be referred to a primary treatments, initial treatment, or induction therapy.
What is the chance that second-line treatment will be successful?
The chance that second-line treatment will be successful depends on the type of cancer you have. Second-line treatment often works very well for certain types of cancer. People with other types of cancer may have only a small chance that second-line treatment will work. Other factors that affect whether second-line therapy may work include:
What is second-line treatment?
Second-line treatment is treatment for a disease or condition after the initial treatment (first-line treatment) has failed, stopped working, or has side effects that aren't tolerated.
What are first-line cancer treatments?
First-line treatments are those which you and oncologist will choose as the best first choice for your particular cancer. There are often several different options available, yet first-line treatments are those which are most expected to control your disease with the fewest side effects in the process.
What is the difference between first line treatment and second-line treatment?
Second-line treatment is treatment for a disease or condition after the initial treatment (first-line treatment) has failed, stopped working, or has side effects that aren't tolerated. It's important to understand "lines of treatment" and how they differ from first line treatment and can play a role in clinical trials.
Which cancer treatment is most effective?
Treatment 1: Surgery Surgery is an option for most cancers other than blood cancers, with specialized cancer surgeons attempting to remove all or most of a solid tumor. It is an especially effective treatment for early stage cancers that haven't spread to other parts of the body.
Why do cancer treatments usually use two or three treatments and not just one?
The rationale for combination therapy is to use drugs that work by different mechanisms, thereby decreasing the likelihood that resistant cancer cells will develop. When drugs with different effects are combined, each drug can be used at its optimal dose, without intolerable side effects.
Why is combination therapy more effective than single drug therapy?
One rationale behind the success of combination therapies lies in their ability to effectively influence biological regulatory circuits, which have built-in redundancies that make them resistant to single perturbations, as well as feedback mechanisms that enable them to adapt to changes in the environment and maintain ...
What is meant by choosing a first line of treatment in cancer therapy?
The first drug or combination of drugs a patient takes is called “first-line” treatment, which may be followed by “second-line” and “third-line” treatment. No specific treatment or combination of treatments works for every patient.
Where is the best treatment for cancer?
The Top 5 Countries For Cancer TreatmentAustralia. Whilst Australia suffers high levels of certain types of cancers, such as skin, prostate, lung, bowel and breast, it has the lowest cancer mortality rate in the world3 – which is a huge achievement. ... The Netherlands. ... USA. ... Canada. ... Finland.
Is second round of chemo worse than first?
Overall, my second round of chemo went much better than the first... thanks to an adjustment Dr. Soule made based on my round one experience (she extended my steroid to be taken for three days after chemo, instead of just one, though with smaller doses on each day).
Why is multi drug chemotherapy effective?
Combination chemotherapy is the use of more than one medication at a time to treat cancer. Since chemotherapy drugs affect cancer cells at different points in the cell cycle, using a combination of drugs increases the chance that all of the cancer cells will be eliminated.
What happens after 2nd chemo treatment?
Nausea, vomiting, and taste changes You may experience nausea (feeling like you might throw up) and vomiting (throwing up) after your last chemotherapy treatment. It should go away in 2 to 3 weeks. Your appetite may continue to be affected due to taste changes you may have experienced during your treatment.
What treatments or combination of treatments are most effective?
Research generally shows that psychotherapy is more effective than medications, and that adding medications does not significantly improve outcomes from psychotherapy alone.
Why is combination therapy used?
Combination therapy, a treatment modality that combines two or more therapeutic agents, is a cornerstone of cancer therapy. The amalgamation of anti-cancer drugs enhances efficacy compared to the mono-therapy approach because it targets key pathways in a characteristically synergistic or an additive manner.
How effective is combination therapy?
They found that patients receiving combination psychological and drug therapy were most likely to respond. They were: 27% more likely to respond than those receiving psychotherapy alone. 25% more likely to respond than those receiving drug treatment alone.
What is second line treatment?
Second-line treatment is treatment for a disease or condition after the initial treatment ( first-line treatment) has failed, stopped working, or has side effects that aren't tolerated. It's important to understand "lines of treatment" and how they differ from first line treatment and can play a role in clinical trials.
Why do we use second line therapy?
Second-line or further lines of therapy (third-line, fourth-line, seventh-line, etc.) may be used for a few different reasons: The first-line treatment worked but has since stopped working. The first-line treatment has side effects that are not tolerated.
What is the importance of defining lines of treatment?
An example of the importance of defining lines of treatment is a 2019 study that compared different second-line treatments for lung cancer. Since there are a number of different options, and many studies look at the effectiveness of first line therapies, this can give important information to oncologists.
Why is understanding the line of treatment important?
Understanding line of treatment becomes very important when looking at clinical trials for cancer. Some clinical trials require that people have no previous treatments, whereas others are designed for people who have had inadequate results with a previous treatment.
Is first line treatment more effective than present treatment?
The first-line treatment has side effects that are not tolerated. A new treatment becomes available that appears to be more effective than the present treatment. With survival rates improving for many cancers, and the number of available treatments increase, some people receive many lines of therapy.
Is second line therapy better than first line?
In some cases a person will have a better response to a second line therapy than they did to first line treatment. Second-line treatments are available for most cancers, but the likelihood of effective options can vary with the type and stage of your cancer.
Is breast cancer a first line treatment?
First line treatment can include more than one treatment method. For example, if a woman has surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer, the combination of therapies is still considered first line therapy.
What is the first line of therapy?
You know, the first line of therapy is just the first treatment that you end up getting. Now, traditionally, again, that’s been the best treatment that we’ve had, the ones that have had the most effectiveness in terms of shrinking cancer cells and in terms of improving survival.
How long does it take to get a cancer test back?
We don’t have to wait two weeks to four weeks to get the test results back. And but what that means is that let’s say the cancer, you know, testing comes back with an EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutation or an ALK rearrangement. Well, then that means that that will be your second line of treatment.
Is a second line better than a third line?
So that second line is just the second treatment you get. There are lines in the third treatment that you get. But, of course, there are patients who get second-line and third-line treatments that are better than their first-line treatments sometimes. A great example of this would be targeted therapy where, a patient may not have time ...
What is first line treatment?
First-line treatment or therapy simply refers to the initial, or first treatment recommended for a disease or illness. This may also be referred to as primary treatment, initial treatment, or induction therapy. With many conditions, including cancer, there are many possible treatments that could be effective.
What is the first line of treatment for lung cancer?
First-line treatment is usually the standard treatment (the "gold standard") given when someone is diagnosed with a particular disease or condition , such as lung cancer. In other words, it is likely the treatment most oncologists would first choose in treating someone. That said, there are no general "rules" stating which treatment has to absolutely come first, and in addition to that, it's important to work with your oncologist to choose the treatment that is best for you as an individual. Only you can be your own advocate and select the treatments which offer you the best outcome while minimizing the side effects you are willing to tolerate.
What is the difference between first line and second line?
In contrast, second-line treatments are used when the first-line treatment failed to improve a cancer, or if it worked for a while and then the cancer progressed, and tend to be less effective.
What are complementary treatments for cancer?
In this setting, therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, massage, and yoga are used in an integrative fashion—that is, they are used along with traditional treatments such as chemotherapy. These complementary treatments may help some people cope with the side effects of cancer and cancer treatments.
What is alternative treatment?
In this setting, therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, massage, and yoga are used in an integrative fashion—that is, they are used along with traditional treatments such as chemotherapy. These complementary treatments may help some people cope with the side effects of cancer and cancer treatments.
Is neoadjuvant therapy considered a first line treatment?
Neoadjuvant therapy, chemotherapy given before surgery to reduce the size of a tumor, or adjuvant therapy, given after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence, are considered components of first-line therapy in this setting. First-Line vs. Second-Line Treatment. In contrast to first-line treatment, second-line treatment is usually ...
Is Keytruda used for lung cancer?
For example, with some advanced non-small cell lung cancers (without mutations that can be targeted), chemotherapy was once considered the accepted first-line treatment by oncologists, but a 2018 study explains how Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is used with chemotherapy in this setting. saritwuttisan / iStockphoto.
What is second line therapy?
Your doctor may then suggest a second-line treatment, also called second-line therapy. It is a different treatment that is likely to be effective. Depending on the type of cancer you have and the available drugs, you may be able to have third-line therapy or additional rounds of treatment after that.
What happens if a first line treatment does not work?
Learning your first-line treatment did not work can be scary. You may also feel a wide range of other emotions, such as anger, fear, shock, grief, and anxiety. You may wonder if you and your doctor should have chosen another option for your first treatment. You may worry about whether you have the strength to go through a new treatment. These are all normal reactions. But it is important to seek the support you need to get through this difficult time. Some strategies include: 1 Sharing your fears and anxieties with family, friends, clergy, or support groups, in-person or online 2 Connecting with someone else who has had second-line treatment and understands the emotions you are experiencing 3 Expressing your feelings in a journal or a blog 4 Practicing stress management and relaxation techniques 5 Spending time outside or around nature 6 Listening to music 7 Watching or listening to programs or shows that make you laugh
What is the treatment for cancer called?
This type of treatment is known as palliative care or supportive care .
Why is it important to talk to your health care team?
It is important to talk with your health care team about your care throughout the treatment process. Being an informed, involved patient, asking questions, and talking about your preferences will help you and your health care team work together better.
What to do before a second line?
Before second-line treatment starts, talk with your doctor about the goal of any suggested new treatments. Also talk about your chance of getting better. You and your doctor may decide that receiving a new treatment is not the best choice. This may happen if the treatment has unpleasant or serious side effects or if the chance for success is small. ...
Is it safe to take a clinical trial?
It proves that it is safe, effective, and possibly better than the standard treatment you may already have had. Many clinical trials require that you have few or no previous treatments. Because of this, it is best to ask about clinical trials early in the treatment process.
Is second line treatment better than first line?
But the chance that second-line treatment or more rounds of treatment will have good results is usually lower than with first-line treatment. The chance that second-line treatment will be successful depends on the type of cancer you have. Second-line treatment often works very well for certain types of cancer.
Lines of Treatment
Significance
- Since discussing second-line treatment usually means that first-line treatment failed, you are likely feeling a whole host of cancer emotions, similar to when you were first diagnosed. Some people say that it feels like starting all over—but with less energy this time. Usually, first-line treatments are chosen because they have the greatest benefit...
The Option of Clinical Trials
- Understanding line of treatment becomes very important when looking at clinical trialsfor cancer. Some clinical trials require that people have no previous treatments, whereas others are designed for people who have had inadequate results with a previous treatment. For example, one clinical trial may require the treatment to be used as a first line therapy, whereas another may only be en…
Questions to Ask About Second-Line Treatments
- Since the failure of a first treatment can leave you feeling overwhelmed and anxious, having a list of questions to ask your healthcare provider (as well as a friend to attend the visit with you) can be very helpful. 1. How effective is the second-line treatment, and how does it compare to the treatment you had previously? 2. What are the possible side effects of the treatment? 3. What ha…
Example
- An example of the importance of defining lines of treatment is a 2019 study that compared different second-line treatments for lung cancer. Since there are a number of different options, and many studies look at the effectiveness of first line therapies, this can give important information to oncologists. For example, the second line chemotherapy drug Taxotere (docetax…
Coping
- Thinking about and making decisions about second-line treatment can be heartwrenching. It's hard enough the first time around, but at this point many people are exhausted and it's easy to get discouraged. Reach out to people in your support network, and don't be afraid to share your fears. Certainly, not every friend will be comfortable with this, but choose at least a friend or two with …
Understanding First-Line Treatment
Questions to Ask
- When you and your healthcare provider consider a first-line treatment or first-line treatments, think through these questions. 1. Clarify the type and stage and molecular profile of your tumor. Is there any further testing that should be done? (If you've been diagnosed with advanced cancer, ask about the molecular profile of your tumor, and if this hasn't been done, ask why not). 2. What is y…
Alternative and Complementary Treatments
- It's important when talking about treatment to clarify what is meant by "alternative treatments." Most people now use the phrase alternative treatments to refer to complementary treatments that are offered by some cancer centers. In this setting, therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, massage, and yoga are used in an integrative fashion—that is, they are used along with tradition…