|
It
can be described as:
|
Complete
response - Where all x-ray and laboratory
evidence of the cancer is gone.
Partial
response - Where there has been a significant
reduction in the amount of tumor.
Stable
disease - Where there is no evidence
of growth but also no evidence of reduction.
Progressive
disease - Where the tumor has increased
in size despite treatment.
|
|
The
chemotherapy is given in cycles with one or several
drugs given during the cycle. The cycles can be repeated
on a regular basis and usually number between four and
eight. They are given every three to five weeks if your
blood counts remain strong enough to allow treatment.
In an effort to help keep the blood counts at acceptable
levels, growth factors, which help the bone marrow
work better, may be given. Many of the chemotherapy
agents require good kidney and/or liver function in
order to process the drugs to make them effective and/or
to allow them to be eliminated from the body.
The
side effects from the chemotherapy are
specific for the drugs that you get, but usually their
side effects include:
 |
Fatigue |
|
Increased
chance of catching colds or the flu and having
longer and more severe symptoms |
|
An
affect on your heart's ability to push the
blood out of it |
|
Blisters
in the lips, mouth and GI tract |
|
Diarrhea |
|
Nausea |
|
Vomiting |
|
Hair
loss |
|
|
