| 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.
... 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
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