Second Line Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment used to treat the cancer using various drugs. Chemotherapy drugs used in the chemotherapy kill the cancer cells. The doctor makes a proper regime of chemotherapy treatment for his patient.

Initially patients receive the first line chemotherapy. If first line chemotherapy fails to produce desired results, doctors consider the second line chemotherapy. Before applying chemotherapy treatment, various aspects are taken into account including type and stage of the cancer, medical history of the patient as well as overall health of the patient.

Patient who is going for second line chemotherapy should discuss short term as well as long side effects of the second line chemotherapy with his health care team. Also discuss about the precaution that need to be taken prior to the treatment and also the duration of the particular side effects.

There are also some medicines which help in dealing with side effects of the second line chemotherapy. It may happen that patient may not continue his daily routine during the treatment.

In second line chemotherapy, chemotherapy drugs eradicate cancer cells. However, they also affect normal body cells. After the failure of the first line chemotherapy, doctors suggest second line chemotherapy. Patients may also go for natural treatments which not cause any damage to your body organs.

Topical Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment used for treating cancer. In chemotherapy treatment, drugs are used to treat cancer. There are two types of the chemotherapy treatment. They are topical chemotherapy and systemic chemotherapy.

In topical chemotherapy, anticancer drugs are applied to the skin instead of being given by orally or intravenously. Anticancer drugs used in topical chemotherapy are a lotion, cream, ointment or special bandage.

In the topical of penile cancer, 5-fluorouracil (5 FU) is commonly used as chemotherapy drug. 5 FU chemotherapy is applied in the form of topical cream on the skin. However, it is not get absorbed. It can reach the cancer cells near the skin. But it can not reach the cancer cells that spread deep into the ski and other parts of the body. Therefore, topical chemotherapy with 5-FU is used for premalignant or carcinoma in situ only.

In topical chemotherapy, drugs are applied on the affected area. So, drugs do not spread in the entire body. It minimizes the side effects which are commonly associated with the systemic chemotherapy treatment. After the topical chemotherapy, biopsy is carried out. If there is cancer, physician recommends surgery.

Though topical chemotherapy does not likely to cause typical side effects like nausea, diarrhea and low blood count. However, skin becomes red and sensitive after applying 5 FU topical cream. One can relieve these side effects using topical medicines or creams. Other side effects associated with topical chemotherapy are irritation, tenderness and itching.

5 FU Chemotherapy

5-Fluorouracil is a chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer. 5-Fluorouracil chemotherapy is used treat colon cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, liver cancer, ovarian cancer and gastrointestinal cancers. 5 Fluorouracil is also known as 5FU or Adrucil. It is a cytotoxic chemotherapy drug which is classified as an antimetabolite.

5 FU chemotherapy drug is injected into the vein using intravenous (IV) method or as an infusion. Schedule of the treatment and amount of drugs depend on the specific chemotherapy protocol. It can be given for several hours to several weeks.

5 FU is also applied topically. A topical cream of 5 FU is applied on the affected skin as a thin coating. It is applied twice a day. Amount of 5 FU used in the treatment depends on various factors like physical state of the patient (weight and height), overall health of patient, other health related problems and type and stage of the cancer. After considering all the factors, doctor will prepare treatment schedule.

5 FU chemotherapy has some side effects as it also destroy the normal body cells. Some common side effects associated with 5 FU chemotherapy are diarrhea, nausea, mouth sores, low appetite, eye problems, low blood cells counts, anemia, bleeding and risk of infection. These side effects are temporary and disappear once the treatment is over.

Consult your doctor about the chemotherapy schedule before your treatment starts. Also seek doctors’ advice in situations like high fever or chills.

CMF Chemotherapy

CMF chemotherapy is used for the treatment of the breast cancer. In CMF chemotherapy, drugs used are:

• Cyclophosphamide
• Methotrexatea
• Fluorouracil (5FU)

CMF treatment is given to patient as a day patient. Before the start of treatment (either on the same day or few day before), blood test is taken. Also your doctor or nurse takes the physical test. If the results of the treatments are normal, doctor will go ahead with the treatment. They will prepare chemotherapy treatment schedule which include chemotherapy drugs, method of administration.

A flexible tube is put in the vein to administer the chemotherapy drugs. Some time a thin plastic tube is inserted under the skin into a vein. It is inserted in the vein near the collarbone or a vein in their arm. Some anti sickness drugs or tablets are also given to patient during the treatment.

The drugs used in CMF chemotherapy are administered separately. Cyclophosphamide is given intravenously as a drip. Methotrexate is injected along with a drip of salt water or saline into the cannula. Flourocial is also injected in the same way. The whole treatment takes around one hour time.

There is no specific order for giving the drugs. However, cyclophosphamide is given first. Patients can go home once the treatment over. However, they have to take their anti-sickness drugs regularly. These drugs are provided by the doctor.

CMF chemotherapy has side effects associated with it. Each patient reacts to CF chemotherapy differently. Some patients have fewer side effects, while others experience more side effects. Some side effects associated with CMF chemotherapy are lowered resistance to infection, hair loss, bleeding, anemia, mouth sores, diarrhea and tiredness. Consult your doctor if you are experiencing any side effects during the treatment.

Chemotherapy Pills

Chemotherapy is used for cancer treatment. Drugs are used to kill the cancer cells. These drugs are administered using various methods like intravenous, intramuscular or oral. Chemotherapy pills are effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer intravenously. In case of advanced cancer, this treatment is more effective than other intravenous treatment.

Comparatively, oral chemotherapy has fewer side effects than intravenous chemotherapy. Oral chemotherapy treatment gives better quality than intravenous chemotherapy to the patients. Chemotherapy treatment has some side effects associated with it whether it is oral or intravenous.

Capecitabine pill is for the treatment of colorectal cancer. It has few side effects. Capecitabine is also known as Xeloda which shrinks the tumor. When capecitabine is absorbed into body, it is converted into 5-FU. It is proved that patients taking Xeloda live longer (about 23 months in average) longer than those who are taking intravenous chemotherapy. Xeloda is used as single drug or in combination of other drug.

Capecitabine is used extensively by the patients as it is very effective and has fewer side effects. Patients prefer to take 5FU in the pill form rather than intravenous form. Chemotherapy pills are supposed to target tumor cells and very active.

Patients suffering from cancer respond to oral chemotherapy more than standard chemotherapy. Side effects like nausea, diarrhea, hair loss, fatigue and tract ulcers are rare in patients who are taking the chemotherapy pills. Pills are less toxic and more effective than intravenous chemotherapy. However, side effects such as redness and soreness may occur.

Chemotherapy Nausea

Chemotherapy treatment causes various side effects. One of the most common side effects of chemotherapy is nausea. Nausea seems to be harmless side effect. However, it becomes serious sometime. Nausea may lead to loss of appetite. Loss of appetite may lead to dehydration which is serious.

Even though, nausea is common side effects, everyone undergoing chemotherapy will not experience it. One can also reduce chemotherapy nausea through change in diet and medication.

Take small meals throughout the day even though you feel hungry. If you are going to eat large amount then wait till the nausea has passed. Avoid oily and fatty food during the treatment. Drink liquids at room temperature. Avoid cool and hot fluid as it may increase nausea.

Take proper rest after your meal. Rest in upright position and do not lie down completely. It will help for digestion. Also avoid strong scents or odors as well as favorite foods. It may increase your nausea. Also avoid smoking. Smoking can upset your digestion and may lead to nausea.

If you are suffering form nausea, consult your physician immediately. Physician may prescribe you some medications or ask you to drink fluid to relieve nausea. However, do not take any medication without consulting to your physician for any of your side effect including nausea.

Chemotherapy and Radiation

Radiation Therapy

In radiation therapy, energy rays like x-rays or gamma rays and particles (electrons and neutrons) are used to eradicate rapidly growing cancer cells. In this therapy, external beam focuses on the cancer part of the body. Radiation therapy is mostly used to treat laryngeal as well as hypo pharyngeal cancer. Radiation chemotherapy is given daily for seven weeks. Generally it is given five days per week. Other schedules for radiation doses have been under trial.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy is used as primary treatment to treat laryngeal and hypo pharyngeal cancer. Radiation therapy can be also used as adjuvant treatment after surgery.

Radiation is divided into no of doses, known as hyper fractionation. Some time two doses are given per day instead of one. In accelerated fractionation, radiation therapy is completed within five weeks (instead of seven weeks). Such accelerated fractionation and hyper fractionation minimize the risks of cancer recurrence. However these therapies also increase the sternness of side effects and fail to improve survival rates.

Radiation chemotherapy is associated with side effects which include skin problems, sore throat, dry mouth, decrease in taste, swallowing difficulty, tiredness, and breathing problems. These side effects are temporary and go away in some time.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment. In chemotherapy treatment, anticancer drugs are administered in the body. These drugs reach all parts of body via blood stream. Chemotherapy is used to treat various cancer including head and neck cancer.

Recently chemotherapy is used along with radiation therapy to treat advanced staged head and neck cancer. Chemotherapy drugs attack cancer cells and prohibit them from growing. Usually, combination of two or more drugs is used.

Chemotherapy treatment has some side effects associated with it. Some of the side effects of chemotherapy are fatigue, nausea, hair loss, tiredness and low blood counts. These side effects are temporary in nature and disappear after some time.