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.