Chemotherapy – cancer treatment and side effects

Archive for the ‘Types of Chemotherapy’ Category

Chemotherapy is a process of using various drugs to treat the cancer. One of the treatments used is called R-ICE Chemotherapy. This process includes using Ifosfamide in a 4,000 mg dosage for one day, with Mesna in an 800 mg dosage 1 hour prior to the Ifosfamide and 2 hours after the Ifosfamide followed by another dosage at 8 – 12 hours after the Ifosfamide. Cisplatin in 25 mg is taken for 1 to 3 days as well as Etoposide in 100 mg for the same length of time. The addition of Rituxan is added to this combination of the medications to create the R-ICE chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy has many types of treatments to help cure cancer. It is a treatment that is helpful to either cure or slow down the process of cancer. Cancer patients have the chemotherapy based on their type of cancer, level of growth of cancer, and the recommendation of the treating physician.The treatments are based on how the patient will respond or tolerate the treatments. Since everyone is different and responds differently, monitoring the progress of the patient is part of the treatment. A determining factor for the frequency of the treatment is the how quickly the patient’s blood count recovers from the chemotherapy.

The typical regimen for the chemotherapy is given on a three or four week treatment schedule. The patient receives the chemotherapy treatments as an outpatient for one day each week of the scheduled plan. The reason for the standard schedule is this period has been proven the time required for the recovery of the blood cell count.

When a person is using the R-ICE Chemotherapy, it is not recommended that they continue the procedures until their blood counts are able to tolerate the treatments. Many patients have the treatments provided in several sessions to reduce the levels of side effects as an inpatient at the hospital. This type of treatment is done under the closer supervision of the attending physician. While other patients respond to treatment with the simple consumption of the chemotherapy medications over several days. The exact type of treatment will be determined by the physician to ensure the patient responds accordingly to the chemotherapy.

ICE chemotherapy is a treatment used for non-Hodgkin-lymphoma. The name is derived from the drugs used in this particular type of chemotherapy. The drugs are Ifosfamide, Cisplatin, and Etoposide. The ICE chemotherapy is performed at the hospital after the patient has blood work done to verify the count of blood cells and before any other blood tests are performed. When the blood tests are considered adequate, the patient is allowed to receive the chemotherapy products prepared by the pharmaceutical companies for the chemotherapy.

The drugs are administered directly into the body with a thin plastic tube that is inserted beneath the skin into a vein near the collarbone. Some patients will have the tube inserted into the arm vein as well.
Patients have reported experiencing pain during the process of ICE chemotherapy for a short time followed by being uncomfortable. The drugs used can make a patient feel sick, so to combat this, physicians will also administer an anti-sickness drug prior to the chemotherapy intravenously. There are some oral medications used to prevent the sick feeling.

The chemotherapy drug Ifosfamide has a side effect of irritating the bladder lining resulting in bleeding. To help avoid this situation, a Mesna is added to the drug to reduce the changes of the bleeding and irritation. The Mesna is an oral drug provided by the physician, which should only be taken as directed.

Etoposide has been reportedly painful when administered. When a patient experiences any type of pain during chemotherapy, they should always tell the attending nurse or physician.

The reactions to the ICE chemotherapy differ from each person. This is also true for the side effects. Always tell the physician of any side effects to reduce the ill feelings that are experienced.

Some of the typical side effects are low resistance to other illnesses, hair loss, vomiting, bleeding, nausea, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Other side effects include loss of taste, diarrhea, sleepiness, drowsiness, confusion, or dazed feelings, and loss of balance. The side effects will generally wear off yet there are some reports of the lasting effects for women to lose the ability to conceive or damage to the kidneys.

One of the treatments for breast cancer is called CMF chemotherapy. The name is derived from the drugs used in the treatment, which are cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil also called 5FU. CMF chemotherapy is an outpatient procedure performed after verifying the blood count of the patient. The blood work can be done days before the treatment or the same day as the treatment.

The chemotherapy drugs are administered by a thin tube called a cannula that is inserted into a vein the hand, arm, or collarbone region. The tubing inserted into the collarbone is called a central line. All are options for treatments and will be determined by the patient and attending physician. Prior to the administration of the chemotherapy drugs, the patient will be given an anti-sickness drug via injection into the cannula or an oral medication. The medication will help with the side effects of the therapy drugs.

Once the anti-sickness drug has been allowed to take effect, the CMF chemotherapy process begins with the cyclophosphamide, which is a colorless fluid, injected into the cannula. Methotrexate, a yellow fluid, precedes the first drug in combination with saline water into the cannula. Finally, 5FU is injected into the cannula. The process takes about one hour. The order of the drugs injected can be changed per the discretion of the physician and the order of the drugs will not alter the effectiveness of the chemotherapy.

After the final injection of the drugs, the physician will allow the patient to return home after removing the cannula. The physician will provide additional anti-sickness medication to use to prevent further potential sickness from the treatment. Take the medication prior to symptoms since the medication works best before the sickness starts.
The frequency of the treatments is provided in several ways. There are four different types of treatment schedules that are called Schedule A, Schedule B, Schedule C, and Schedule D.

Schedule A consists of taking cyclophosphamide tablets for two weeks. The injections of the methotrexate and 5FU begin the same day. After one week, the methotrexate and 5Fu will be injected again. After the cyclophosphamide tablets are completed, there will be a two-week break before the process is repeated. Schedule B consists of the three drugs being injected. One week later, methotrexate and 5FU will be administered again. There is a two-week break before the cycle repeats again. Schedule C consists of the three drugs being administered by injection. There is a three-week break then the cycle repeats. Schedule D consists of the three drugs being administered by injection. One week later the same process occurs. A break of one week is given before the cycle is repeated. The schedules generally are administered 4-6 times during a 3 to 6 month period.

AC chemotherapy is a type of chemotherapy that’s usually selected for breast cancer treatment . The name is derived from the drugs used in the process. Adriamycin (now called doxorubicin) and cyclophosphamide are the two drugs used in this process.
AC chemotherapy is given as an outpatient process. Prior to the treatment, there’ll be a blood test to determine if the chemotherapy will be done. The blood count is the basis of the decision whether to go ahead with the treatment or not. The blood work can be done on the same day as the treatment or several days prior. When the blood work is considered normal, the drugs will be prepared by the pharmacy for the treatment.

Prior to the treatment, a small thin plastic tube will be inserted into a vein in the hand or arm called a cannula. The insertion of the tube is a little painful but you will become accustomed to the tube in the skin shortly. Another option to the cannula is the central line, which is inserted near the collarbone or the PICC line, which is inserted in the crook of the arm.

After the tube is inserted, an anti-sickness drug will be provided either orally or as an injection to help fight the side effects of the chemotherapy. The process for the chemotherapy begins with the injection of doxorubicin, which is a red fluid, in combination with saline water. Cyclophosphamide, a colorless fluid, precedes the first liquid. The order of the injection of the two drugs may be altered but this does not affect the effectiveness of the treatment.

Once the drugs have been administered, you will be allowed to return home after the cannula is removed. Your physician will provide additional anti-sickness medication will be provided. Note it is important to take the medication prior to the symptoms for better effectiveness. The physician will determine the regimen of the AC chemotherapy. There are several schedules available, which your physician will discuss with you prior to starting any treatments.

Patients of AC chemotherapy experience a lower resistance due to reduced production of white blood cells creating the option of infection. It is recommended for patients to avoid contact with anyone with any type of illness for seven days after treatment to allow the white blood cell count to recovery from the treatments.

ABCD chemotherapy is another name for the drugs used to treat cancer. The drugs used are Adriamycin now called doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine. The process used for this type of chemotherapy is outpatient yet this is to be determined by the attending physician as everyone responds differently to the treatments.
The treatment consists of having blood work prior to the drug treatment. Once the physician is sure the patient is able to receive the drugs, the patient will have a plastic tube called a cannula inserted into a vein in the hand or arm. The original insertion of the tube is said to be uncomfortable but the affects will wear off as you adjust to the feeling and pressure. Some people prefer to have the cannula inserted near the collarbone called a central line or in the area in the arm called a PICC line. Ask your attending nurse or physician about the various types you can have for your chemotherapy.

The standard process for ABVD chemotherapy begins with you receiving an anti-emetic drug to fight the sickness you may experience as an injection in the tubing or as an oral medication. Then you will have an injection of doxorubicin, which is a red fluid combined with saline followed by vinblastine, which is a clear fluid, then bleomycin and dacarbazine, which are both colorless. The process takes about two hours since the injections are administered slowly.

When you are an outpatient for the chemotherapy, you will be allowed to return home after the administration of the drugs and the cannula is removed. Your physician may provide anti-sickness medication to help you deal with the side effects of the treatment. It is important to realize the drugs used for nausea are best used prior to the symptoms since they work better to relieve the sickness before it actually starts.

The physician based on the blood work showing the recovery for the blood count will determine the ABVD chemotherapy treatments. Careful monitoring the blood count is the basis to determine the frequency of the chemotherapy, which will be discussed with you by your physician and can vary depending on the way your body adjusts to the treatments.

Prostate cancer is serious and it develops in the male reproductive system or prostate gland. The most common treatment for this type of cancer is chemotherapy. The prostate is part of the male reproductive organ which makes and stores seminal fluid. In a typical adult male, the prostate is three centimeters long and weighs roughly twenty grams. The prostate is found under the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum.This location means that prostate disease typically affects both urination and sexual activity. In the first phrase of prostate cancer, there are usually no symptoms. It can still be diagnosed during a medical examination during this early stage by an elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen) level. As the disease progresses the patient might experience frequent urination, increased urination at night, difficult starting and stopping a steady stream of urine, blood in the urine, or painful urination. It is essential to catch this cancer in its early stages as it can spread throughout the body.

Treatment for prostate cancer might involve surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Use of chemotherapy for prostate cancer was for some time limited to relieving symptoms associated with metastatic or very advanced stages of the disease.

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundations website two studies completed in 2004 showed the use of the drug Docetaxel could slow the progress of the disease and prolong the lives of men whose cancer no longer responded to other treatments. Subsequent trails found that various combinations of chemotherapy drugs could be used to make this treatment more tolerable and effective.

Side effects can be difficult in the treatment of prostate cancer. Since treatment can be such a varied experience it’s important for a patient to ask the doctor for information about what to expect from their treatment, and what possible side effects they might experience.

Men should take screening for this disease very seriously since early diagnosis and treatment usually produces the best outcome for this type of cancer. If chemotherapy for prostate cancer is prescribe by a doctor during any stage of the disease it could well be the patient’s best bet for a return to health.

Treating leukemia with chemotherapy

Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by an abnormal replication of white blood cells or leukocytes. The term Leukemia covers a broad spectrum of diseases. Almost all types of this condition are treated with chemotherapy.

Types of Leukemia

Leukemia can be divided into several large groups or classifications. Acute leukemia is sudden rapid increase of immature blood cells. This sudden overpopulation creates a situation in which the bone marrow is unable to produce healthy blood cells. This type of acute leukemia is most often found in children.

Chronic leukemia is a slower building up of mature, but abnormal white blood cells. This type of leukemia is often monitored for a period of time before chemotherapy is attempted. This condition is usually found in adults, but sometimes does affect children.

Symptoms of leukemia vary and are often initially ignored or disregarded by the patient. Because the bone marrow is being overwhelmed and can’t replace red blood cells or blood platelets the blood clotting process becomes a problem. Developing bruises too easily, bleeding excessively, or developing ‘pinprick’ bleeds known as petechie is one sign of this cancer. Some patients might feel sick, have fevers, nights sweats and frequent infections.

The low red blood cell count causes anemia characterized by extreme paleness and fatigue. Almost all leukemia is treated with chemotherapy while some patients will also need radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant if a donor can be found.

Leukemia Chemotherapy can both be tough on a patient, but this type of therapy often represents the patient’s best chance for a return to health. In the treatment of acute lymphoblastic chemotherapy is used with the hope of preventing leukemic cells from spreading to other vital sites in the body.

Induction chemotherapy is used to bring about a bone marrow remission. Consolidation or intensification therapy is used to eliminate remaining leukemia cells after other treatment. This is usually a high-dose, multi-drug therapy which may need to be undergone for several months. Maintenance treatments with chemotherapy drugs may still be given for up to three years once remission is achieved to prevent recurrence of the cancer. Treatment for chronic leukemia is different in that chemotherapy is often a last resort and in some forms of the disease might even be treated with oral chemotherapy drugs.

Currently serious research is being conducted into the possible causes, better diagnosis and treatment of all forms of leukemia.

What is Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a type of chemotherapy prescribed to patients in order to shrink a cancer prior to surgery. Chemotherapy is actually a term which covers a wide variety of chemical treatments used to curb the spread of rapidly dividing cells in the body. Several medical terms referring to courses of chemotherapy treatment are often confused. Adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and induction are chemo therapies which perform different functions related to destroying cancer cells or preventing a recurrence of cancer.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is given to kill ‘left-over’ or microscopic cells that may linger after a known tumor is removed by surgery lowering the chance of recurrence. Induction chemotherapy is giving to induce a remission and is usually part of a treatment for acute leukemia.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is given prior to the surgical procedure to remove a cancerous growth in order to shrink it. This type of therapy ensures the actual surgery will not need to be as extensive or invasive. It can also make the condition of the area around a tumor clearer because as a cancer grows the tissue surrounding the growth might show signs of inflammation. As neoadjuvant chemotherapy shrinks the cancerous growth down it’s easier for doctors to make a distinction between the cancerous and healthy tissue. This reduces the amount of healthy tissue removed during the actual surgical procedure.

Some of the side effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, mouth sores, infection, anemia, and an increased chance of bleeding. Researchers are currently looking into ways to lessen these effects by regulating dose density and the frequency of the therapy treatments. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has proven to be the most effective in treating breast, colorectal, and lung cancers. In fact, this type of chemotherapy is standard in treating inflammatory breast cancer since the shrinking of the tumor not only saves more healthy tissue, but also provides a better chance for a cosmetically acceptable outcome.

Some patients might not be suited for this type of therapy, especially if the side effects would render them unfit for surgery later. For many other cancer patients neoadjuvant chemotherapy provides a faster recover time and better mobility after surgery.

What is Lymphoma Chemotherapy

Lymphoma comes about when a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte undergoes a change and begins to multiply crowding out normal cells. This creates tumors that enlarge the lymph nodes.

Lymphoma is often discovered by the enlargement of lymph node. Closely related to lymphoid leukemia this type of cancer starts off in the immune system and can spread quickly if not checked. Lymphoma is actually a generalized term for a group of cancers, which originate in the lymphatic system.

Lymphoma chemotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation is usually prescribed for treatment of this type of cancer. Much of what this therapy will entail depends on the type of lymphoma.

One of the most common types of this cancer is Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This disease is named after Thomas Hodgkin, who first discovered it in 1832. This type of lymphoma is characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternbergs cells and by the organized progression of the cancer through the lymph system. After the condition is diagnosed and a stage or progression of the disease is classified, lymphoma chemotherapy is often prescribed.

For those in the early stages of this cancer chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy can be very effective. The choice will depend on a number of factors such as age, sex, weight, and subtype of the lymphoma. Patients in the later stages may be treated with a combination of chemotherapy by itself without radiation therapy. Any time a large mass is present in either the abdomen or chest both types of treatment will usually be undergone.

Chemotherapy is a treatment which uses chemicals to kill rapidly dividing cells in the body. As this type of therapy affects cell division lymphoma cancers can be very effectively treated. Because of treatments like lymphoma chemotherapy Hodgkin’s lymphoma is “now considered to be one of the most curable forms of cancer” according to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s website.

According to their statistics while treatment outcomes vary the five-year survival rate for patients with this condition has increased from 40 percent in whites from 1960-1963 to 86 percent for all races in 1996-2004.

Adjuvant chemotherapy

Adjuvant chemotherapy is one of the cancer treatment strategies to eliminate distant micro metastases that take place beyond the primary tumor site. Over the years adjuvant chemotherapy improved to the extent where cancer patients have benefited from it significantly. Especially those with cancers like breast cancer, testicular cancer, ovarian cancer. In addition to primary cancer treatments such as surgery or radiation, adjuvant chemotherapy is added to eliminate cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. It can also be applied before surgery or radiation to shrink tumor size.

The reason why adjuvant chemotherapy is mostly recommended to patients with breast and ovarian cancer is because these types of diseases present high risk of recurrence. If the cancerous growth is larger or has spread to lymph nodes then it’s very likely to have multiplied via bloodstream. Therefore patients are given the chemotherapeutic drugs to eradicate any remaining presence of cancer cells that can spread even after the tumor has been taken out.

Is adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for me?

Adjuvant chemotherapy has gained its importance due to the fact that some cancer cells are so microscopic that even if the tests returned negative that didn’t mean there was no cancer. Therefore doctors currently pay more attention to this approach because it’s possible that cancer cells reside undetected in the body putting some people at risk of having cancer cells that are out of sight. These cells can not be felt or seen on various tests and they don’t cause any symptoms. However there’s a risk they might start new tumors in other parts of the body. It is for this type of people adjuvant chemotherapy is applicable.

It is important for those who are about to undergo cancer treatment to know that tumors are classified according to their curability potential. Therefore adjuvant chemotherapy or in other words complementary chemotherapy is given to patients where average survival is extended when adjuvant chemotherapy is accompanied together with surgery or radiotherapy in the early stages of disease.

Adjuvant chemotherapy has also been shown to be helpful to patients with colorectal cancers.

Once the doctor has done several tests to determine that adjuvant chemotherapy would be needed it’s still not possible to tell whether it’s working. The only safe indicator that doctors rely on is when there’s no breakout of cancer cells during the treatment course. Therefore always consult your doctor prior to this treatment because not every person needs adjuvant chemotherapy.