Targeted drugs have little side effects. Why don't doctors promote it?

Targeted therapy is a new treatment method different from radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It is new because it is very different from traditional chemotherapy. Targeted drugs kill tumors more accurately, with stronger killing effect, but less damage to normal tissues.

It is precisely because of the good effect of targeted therapy and small side effects that it has spread rapidly around the world, leaving many patients with advanced stage who had no choice but to sit still and see the light again. Take the advanced stage of lung cancer as an example. In the past, the average survival time of patients was about 1 year, and there was no other effective way except radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, after the advent of targeted therapy, these patients with EGFR gene mutation can control their condition for about a year by taking the first generation of targeted drugs orally. After subsequent drug resistance, if the mutation of drug resistance gene is confirmed, disease control can be extended for another year. Even if drug resistance is repeated, there are still anti-vascular targeted drugs, multi-target drugs, immunotherapy or chemotherapy, which can still stabilize the disease for a long time.

But not every patient has the opportunity of targeted therapy. Some patients have confirmed that there is no suitable target through genetic testing, so there is no suitable targeted drug available.

There are two situations in which targeted drugs cannot be used in advanced tumors. One is that there are no suitable targeted drugs for tumors, and the other is that the tumor gene test is negative. In this case, targeted drugs are unlikely to be effective. Although 100% is not effective, it is more reasonable to adopt other treatment methods first. Targeted drugs are mainly used for patients with advanced metastatic cancer who have no chance of surgery. If they can operate in the early or middle stage, don't miss the opportunity of operation. Of course, patients with advanced cancer should look at the condition, pathology, genetic test results and choose the right medicine. It is useless to use it indiscriminately.

The limitations of knowledge and thinking are inevitable, so whether investing in financial management or saving lives, we should consult professionals instead of hearsay, otherwise there will be a bitter fruit. At the same time, it also reminds non-professionals to mind their own mouths. It's immoral to talk nonsense at the expense of others. Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand.