Targeted Therapy: What It Is, How It Works, and Which Treatments Use It
When you hear targeted therapy, a type of cancer treatment that blocks specific molecules involved in tumor growth. Also known as precision medicine, it doesn’t just blast cells—it finds the exact weakness in a tumor and hits it. Unlike chemotherapy, which attacks all fast-growing cells, targeted therapy zeroes in on proteins, genes, or other molecules that cancer cells rely on to survive. This means fewer side effects for many patients and better outcomes for certain types of cancer.
It’s not magic—it’s science. Doctors test tumors for specific mutations, like BRAF in melanoma or HER2 in breast cancer, and then pick a drug that matches. HER2-positive breast cancer, a subtype of breast cancer driven by a specific protein overexpression responds well to drugs like trastuzumab. BRAF inhibitors, drugs that block a mutated protein found in some melanomas can shrink tumors in weeks. These aren’t guesses—they’re based on lab results from your own tumor tissue.
Targeted therapy doesn’t work for everyone. Some cancers don’t have clear targets yet. Others develop resistance over time, forcing doctors to switch drugs or combine them with immunotherapy. But for those who respond, the difference can be life-changing: longer survival, fewer hospital visits, and better quality of life. It’s not a cure for all, but it’s turning once-deadly cancers into manageable conditions.
You’ll find real-world examples in the posts below—like how certain drugs interact with other medications, what side effects to watch for, and how patients navigate treatment choices. Some posts compare targeted drugs to older treatments. Others break down how insurance covers them or why generics aren’t always available. This isn’t theory—it’s what people are living through every day.
Leukemia and Lymphoma: How Targeted and Cellular Therapies Are Changing Survival Rates
Posted By Kieran Beauchamp On 19 Nov 2025 Comments (2)
Targeted therapies and CAR T-cell treatments are transforming leukemia and lymphoma care, offering deeper remissions and longer survival with fewer side effects than chemotherapy. Learn how these breakthroughs work and who benefits most.
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