Treatments > Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. Cancer cells often divide and form cells without control. Chemotherapy agents are often used in combinations with the goal of killing cells that are actively growing.  ... background on Chemotherapy continued

The three most common ways to give chemotherapy:

	Injecting them or giving through a drip into a vein ('intravenously')
	oral (by mouth)
	Infusion pump

Less common locations for administering chemotherapy

	into muscle (intramuscular)
	under the skin (subcutaneous)
	into an artery (intra-arterial)
	into the fluid around your spine or brain (intrathecally)
	into a body cavity (intracavitary) such as the bladder, chest cavity, or tummy (abdominal cavity)
	into the tumour (intralesional or intratumoral)

Adapted from: cancerhelp.org.uk 

	Chemo Drugs (for Patients) - BCCA Cancer Drug Manual
	Chemo Drugs (for Professionals) - BCCA Cancer Drug Manual
	Chemo Regimens -  CancerBACUP
	Understanding Chemotherapy - CancerBACUP
	Cyberfamily (Greg Defoe) Chemotherapy page - nhlcyberfamily.org
	Cancer Chemotherapy: Drug Classification and Mechanism of Action - pharmacology2000.com

	Is a 14-day cycle the new standard for CHOP, and should G-CSF be used routinely to  keep patients on schedule to optimize efficacy for aggressive or transformed disease?
	Given the promising data coming in and the limited toxicity associated with Rituxan,  should doctors ever prescribe CHOP without Rituxan for CD20 positive NHL?
	Given the cardio toxicity associated with Doxorubicin, are we near a time when doctors can  substitute Liposomal versions of this drug, such as Doxil, for the majority of patients?
	Do we know enough about the lymphocyte- and cardio-protective effects of melatonin to  prescribe it routinely when patients receive CHOP?  See Chemoprotective agents for supporting references.
	Given the profound and durable T-cell immune suppression sometimes observed with the use of fludarabine, should patients be cautious about receiving this agent to *manage* lymphoma?  How does dosing influence this side effect?  Is stem cell harvesting indicated prior to use of Fludarabine?

	ALKYLATING AGENTS - pharmacology.unmc.edu/
	Consequences and Targets of Alkylating Agents - PDF | PDF-Help
	Common Chemotherapies - patientcenters Includes acronyms of common multi-drug regimens
	Prediction of response to drug therapy for cancer -  review abstract  Drugs 44:690-708, 1992.

... Normal cells can also be harmed by chemotherapy agents, especially normal cells that divide quickly such as hair and immune cells. These undesired actions cause side effects. See the Support & Side Effects sections for additional information.

Side effects: Each person's reaction to chemotherapy is unique. Some people have very few side effects, while others may experience more. The side effects you experience will also depend on the dose, and timing of the therapies which can vary signficantly.

"Salvage" chemotherapy is a term often applied to combinations of chemotherapy drugs used to treat NHL after relapse in which the patient is either not responsive to standard protocols, or the patient has general health consideration (allergies, lung, or heart problems) that require the use of unusual combinations of treatment agents, dosing or dosing schedules. Be aware that despite the negative connotation of "salvage," these novel treatments regimens can sometime achieve complete remissions.  Also see Refractory Disease & Drug Resistance

Low dose chemo: There has also been a growing interest in low dose oral chemotherapy as a means of reducing toxicity and improving responses. This type of regimen might be called salvage as well, but we prefer the word "novel." 
 Also see Chemo - oral low dose

Biologic agents in combination with chemotherapy: Rituxan, a monoclonal antibody often used to treat lymphomas that express CD20,  is also used in combination with chemotherapy to enhance its effects. Also see Biologics and Rituxan

Return to top