Chemotherapy is a treatment used to destroy different types of cancers. In chemotherapy, various drugs or chemicals are used which either slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells. CAF chemotherapy is used to treat breast cancer. This type of chemotherapy comprises of three drugs, which include cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and fluorouracil (5FU).

CAF chemotherapy is an effective breast cancer chemotherapy treatment.  CAF chemotherapy treatment is applied in cycles.   Before the chemotherapy treatment, a blood test needs to be performed. If the results of the blood test are normal, your chemotherapy treatment will start immediately.  It will take couple of hours to prepare your chemotherapy drugs.

Chemotherapy drugs are administered separately in CAF treatment. A thin, flexible tube is put into a vein of your hand or arm. Sometimes, a plastic tube is inserted under the skin. Some anti-sickness drugs are usually given before or after the treatment. These are generally injected through the cannula or central line, which is connected to a drip. Some anti-sickness medicines are also available in the form of tablets, which are taken orally.

CAF chemotherapy is applied in different ways.  Doxorubicin is injected through a drip of salt water into your cannula while cyclophosphamide is administered as an injection through a drip of saline or it can be also taken in tablet form. This is followed by an injection of fluorouracil or 5FU, which is injected, into your cannula.

CAF Chemotherapy Regimen

CAF chemotherapy is applied in cycles. There are two different schedules or regimens followed for administering CAF chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide one of chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer treatment.

In regimen A, on the first day of treatment, all three chemotherapy drugs (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and 5FU) are given by drip and injection. This is followed by a rest period or recovery period of three weeks. This completes a cycle of your treatment. After the rest period, the treatment is given again. Total 4 to 6 cycles are given over 4 months of the period

In regimen B, cyclophosphamide tablets are taken for 14 days (Day 1 to 14 of treatment). On the first day of treatment itself, an injection of doxorubicin and fluorouracil is given treatment. On the 8th day of treatment, (one week later) injections of doxorubicin and fluorouracil are given again. After finishing your cyclophosphamide tablets, you will have a rest period of two weeks. New cycle will start after the rest period. Usually four cycles are given.

Chemotherapy usually stops growth of fast growing cancerous cells. However, chemotherapy drugs also damage some normal body cells, which cause some unpleasant side effects.. However, each patient reacts differently to chemotherapy treatment. Some patients experience few side effects, while others may have more.

CAF Chemotherapy Side Effects

The side effects associated with chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, low appetite, and low resistance to infection, bleeding, anemia, sickness, hair loss, memory loss, and sore mouth. These side effects are temporary and will disappear once the treatment is over. However, do not ignore any of the side effects and contact your doctor immediately.
Like other chemotherapies, different drugs are used in CAF chemotherapy to treat the breast cancer effectively.