ACT chemotherapy for breast cancer

Chemotherapy is drug treatment to destroy various cancers. Chemotherapy drugs, which are used in treatment, are toxic in nature. They slow down or stop the growth of cancerous cells. There are various chemotherapy drugs available to treat different cancers. A chemotherapy drug called ACT (Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and Taxol) is used to treat breast cancer. This is also known as ACT chemotherapy.ACT chemotherapy is applied to high-risk patients mostly as adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy is applied after surgery to prevent or minimize the growth of microscopic deposits of cancer cells, which may grow into a recurrent cancer. Among all available chemotherapy combinations drugs for adjuvant chemotherapy, ACT chemotherapy is used mostly. ACT chemotherapy regimen for adjuvant treatment for breast cancer is a combination of Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and Taxol, which has been added to enhance survival period.

Chemotherapy drug eradicates faster growing cancer cells in the body. However, while doing this, these drugs can also damage the faster growing normal cells in body. The hair, the lining of our mouth and the cells in the bone marrow, which produce white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, are affected most. The chemotherapy treatment has recovery period, which allows body’s normal cells to recover from side effects.

ACT chemotherapy drugs

ACT chemotherapy is combination chemotherapy, which contains three drugs namely Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxol. Combination chemotherapy enhance treatment goal and reduce side effects. ACT chemotherapy has some side effects. Each chemotherapy drug in treatment has its own side effects. Following are some common side effects of the ACT chemotherapy, which mostly depends on the dose of the drugs. However, most  of the chemotherapy drugs side effects  are temporary and will disappear once the treatment is over.

Side effects of Adriamycin drug

Adriamycin drug has side effects, which includes hair loss, mount sores, low white blood cells count, low red blood cells count, low platelets count, nail changes, discolored urine, and severe sunburn with sun exposure.

Side effects of Cytoxan drug

Side effects that are caused by Cytoxan include loss of appetite, hair loss mouth sores, low white blood cells count, low red blood cells count, low platelets count, nasal congestion, taste changes, changes in menstrual cycle and bladder irritation

Side effects of Taxol drug

Side effects associated with Taxol chemotherapy drug include hair loss, diarrhea, mouth sores, bone pain, muscle aches, low white blood cells count, low red blood cells count, low platelets count, allergic reaction, numbness, and/or tingling to fingers and toes.

However, one can minimize severity of chemotherapy side effects of Taxol, Adriamycin, and Cytoxan by increasing fluid intake especially in the 24 hours after Cytoxan, good mouth care, avoiding sun exposure, wearing protective clothing and sunscreen.

In chemotherapy, it is important to take full doses of chemotherapy drugs regularly to achieve treatment goal. Though some times side effects are harsh, do not postpone your doses for minor reasons. Your doctor and health care team will help you in management of side effect.