Chemotherapy could cause cancer to SPREAD and grow back even more aggressive, new study claims

The drug is often regarded as the first option for breast cancer patients
But scientists at New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found evidence that this is only a short-term solution – and can be dangerous
While shrinking the tumors, it opens a gateway for tumors to spread, they said
Cancer becomes almost impossible treat once it spreads to other organs

Chemotherapy could cause cancer to spread and become more deadly, new research claims.

The treatment is often regarded as the first option for breast cancer patients to shrink tumors and even blitz the disease altogether.

However, scientists at New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found evidence that this is only a short-term solution.

Their research suggests that, while shrinking the tumors, chemotherapy simultaneously opens a gateway for tumors to spread into the blood system, making it easier to grow back stronger.

Cancer becomes incredibly difficult to treat – often fatal – once it spreads to other organs; it is then classified as Stage 4.

Scientists at New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found that, while shrinking the tumors, chemotherapy opens a gateway for tumors to spread into the blood system

Lead author Dr George Karagiannis says the findings, published on Wednesday, should not deter patients from seeking treatment, but suggests we could create a way to better monitor tumor movement in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

‘One approach would be to obtain a small amount of tumor tissue after a few doses of preoperative chemotherapy,’ Dr Karagiannis told the Telegraph.

‘If we observe that the markers scores are increased we would recommend discontinuing chemo and having surgery first, followed by post-operative chemo.’

Chemotherapy can be administered as a pill or through an intra-venous drip.

The drugs travel throughout the body in the bloodstream.

CHEMOTHERAPY’S PAINFUL SIDE EFFECTS

Tamoxifen, the generic name of Nolvadex, is the oldest and most-prescribed pill for women in remission, according to BreastCancer.org.

The biggest benefits of the medication are reducing the risk of breast cancer of returning by 50 percent and reducing the risk of new cancer developing.

However, its side effects are notoriously taxing on patients – leading to what’s known as ‘chemo brain’, a colloquial term for the mental fogginess and memory loss it triggers.

Other side effects often associated with Tamoxifen and similar pills are abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty speaking or understanding, vision problems, increased tumor or bone pain, hot flashes and depression.

Anxiety is another prominent side effect of the pills and even without the medication, women in remission often struggle with the mental health concern.

A study found that anxiety in breast cancer patients is usually sparked by a fear of death as a result of their symptoms.

It is tipped as an effective way to reach cancer cells that may have spread away from the tumor, as is common with breast cancer.

However, this is not the first study to demonstrate the ways in which chemotherapy can trigger secondary cancers. A 2012 study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found chemotherapy activates healthy cells to fuel tumor growth.

Senior author Peter Nelson, a human biology professor, said that in theory chemotherapy is perfect for killing cancer cells – mix a toxic dose of the drug with a tumor in a lab dish, and the tumor will not be able to survive or spread.

However, he said, the dose required to kill tumors is lethal for patients.

As such, doctors have to administer a lower dose, and it seems that has two key downsides. First, it facilitates dangerous spreading. Second, it allows some tumor cells to survive, become resistant to chemotherapy, and spread to other organs.

Secondary cancer is also referred to as metastatic cancer. It means the cancer has spread from the original site to another organ, via the lymph nodes.

This is also called Stage 4 cancer, the last stage. It can be incredibly difficult to treat as the tumors tend to be more aggressive and resistant to treatment. In many cases the tumors may have also lodged themselves in delicate areas that can be dangerous to operate on.

‘We are currently planning more extensive trials to address the issue,’ Dr Karagiannas said.

‘In this study we only investigated chemotherapy-induced cancer cell dissemination in breast cancer. We are currently working on other types of cancer to see if similar effects are elicited.’