Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT)

SACT is systemic anti-cancer therapy. This is a term used to describe the different types of treatment used to treat cancer. This can include chemotherapy and/or other therapies.

Diabetes and cancer

If you have diabetes it is important to tell your doctors and nurses at The Christie.

Some medicines used for the treatment of cancer can alter blood sugar levels. Steroids, for example, may cause blood sugar levels to become high. You may find that while you are having treatment your blood sugar levels are not as well controlled as usual.

If you are an inpatient, it is important to tell the ward staff that you are diabetic, so they can offer you a suitable diet from the hospital menu. We may refer you to the hospital diabetic team.

If you experience difficulties in controlling your blood sugar levels when you are discharged, contact your own diabetes specialist nurse or GP for advice on the management of your diabetes.

If you are having any difficulties with eating, please ask for a copy of The Christie booklet ‘Eating well with diabetes when you have a poor appetite’.

Vaccinations while you're having SACT

Flu vaccinations

Is it all right for me to have a flu jab during the time I’m having SACT?

It’s safe to have a flu jab, but depending on the sort of SACT you have had, it may not give quite as much protection against an infection as usual. Some patients may need 2 vaccinations. However, if you’re thinking of having any other vaccinations, do check with your Christie doctor first, because some vaccines should be avoided.

COVID-19 vaccinations

We advise that all patients receive a COVID-19 vaccination when this is offered. Your doctor will discuss with you the best time to have this.

Sex, contraception and fertility during SACT

Protecting your partner and contraception

We recommend that you or your partner use a barrier form of contraception during sexual intercourse while you are having the course of treatment.

SACT is dangerous to unborn babies, and this will also protect you and your partner from any SACT drugs that may be present in semen and in the vagina. If you suspect that you may be pregnant, please tell your doctor immediately.

It is very important to use a barrier form of contraception during intercourse to prevent a pregnancy and reduce the risks of infection. It also protects your partner against the transfer of SACT in bodily fluids.

Fertility

SACT may affect your ability to have children. Your doctor or nurse should have discussed this with you. If not, please ask them before you start treatment.

Loss of periods

Menstrual periods often become irregular or stop during SACT treatment. Your periods may or may not restart after SACT has finished.

SACT and everyday life

Holidays: Before booking a holiday, please discuss this with your doctor as it may be better to wait until treatment is over. It is often possible to fit holidays in between cycles of SACT, although it is not advisable to go abroad. As SACT goes on working in the body for some time after treatment, it is best to wait for at least a month after your last treatment before going abroad.

Macmillan Cancer Support has up-to-date information about travel insurance for people being treated for cancer. Contact Macmillan Cancer Support on 0808 808 00 00 or call in at the cancer information centre for an information leaflet.

Activities: Some people having SACT are able to lead a normal life, carrying on their social life and continuing to work. Be guided by how you feel, but be sure to rest when you become tired.

Other tablets and medicines: Please make sure that the doctor knows about any tablets or medicines you are taking for other conditions, including any that you buy from the chemist. These can usually be continued unchanged during treatment – but do check. We will send your family doctor full details of the treatment prescribed in hospital.

Alcohol: As a general rule, you may continue to drink a moderate amount of alcohol but it is probably best avoided for the first 48 hours after SACT. Certain medicines can react badly with alcohol and if your treatment includes these we will tell you before starting.

Herbal remedies and health supplements

Some commonly-taken supplements and herbal remedies can interfere with cancer treatments.

Please tell your doctor about any supplements you may be taking, for example; vitamins, garlic capsules, cod liver oil, echinacea and St John’s Wort. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking these while you are having treatment.

Clinical trials

Research into new ways of treating cancers is going on all the time, especially here at The Christie. No current cancer treatment is completely effective and our doctors are always looking for new ways to treat the disease. This is done through clinical trials.

There are many types of clinical trial, some look at how well a drug works and some look at how well it is tolerated. Clinical trials help work out what is a better treatment – either by being more effective than standard treatments in treating your cancer or by having less side effects.

Your clinical team here at The Christie may invite you to be part of a clinical trial. If you are interested, you can ask your doctor if there are any suitable trial options.

If you agree to take part in a trial, you can still change your mind at any time and withdraw. If you choose not to take part you will continue to receive the currently approved NHS treatments.

(We acknowledge the help of Macmillan Cancer Support for this information on clinical trials).

The clinical research facility (CRF)

The clinical research facility in the Oak Road patient treatment centre is where early phase (phase l and ll) clinical trial treatments are given. Treatments for later phase clinical trials are given on the SACT unit.