WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CHEMOTHERAPY ?

There are various types of cancer, which requires different type of drugs that kill cancer cells in various ways at various phases in the cell cycle. Following is the list of the various types of chemotherapy:

 

ICE Chemotherapy : Used for treating “non-Hodgkin-lymphoma”. Derived from the chemotherapy drugs – ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide. A slim plastic tube, inserted below the skin and vein, close to the collarbone (central-line), or through the vein of the arm (PICC-line). Uncomfortable and painful treatment.

 

FOLFOX Chemotherapy : Used for treating colon cancer. Derived from the chemotherapy drugs - Folinic Acid (FOL), Fluorouracil (F) and Oxaliplatin (OX). Uses two cycles of treatments, 6 per week. 2 weeks. Drugs are injected in the blood through intravenous treatments. A very short tube called cannula is put into the vein at the beginning of each treatment. This is a long plastic tube put in the chest or arm.

 

Cisplatin Chemotherapy : Is immensely effective in eradicating the traces of cancer from a patient. Used for treating bladder, stomach, ovaries, lung and testicle cancers. A flexible and fine tube is inserted into the vein of a patient, or through a PICC line. Affects the neural system of the body.

 

5FU Chemotherapy : Also known as Fluorouracil chemotherapy. Used for treating from esophagus, stomach and breast cancer. Injected into the body through the veins. Medicines are also given in the drip. It is given right below the surface of the skin on the collarbone. While inserting, a cream is applied in the skin which in turn changes the color of the skin.

 

Dose Dense Chemotherapy: Used for treating breast cancer. Best for those who have spread almost to the lymph nodes. Drugs are given with less time between treatments than in a standard chemotherapy treatment plan.

 

Taxotere Chemotherapy: Is injected in the veins of the patient. Treatment duration is one hour and given after every three weeks. Used for treating the patients suffering from breast cancer, stomach cancer and prostate cancer. Sometimes, ovarian and bladder cancer can also be treated. Not available in the form of a pill. Is always injected into the veins.