Chop Chemotherapy Definition: Specific Remedy for Cancer

CHOP chemotherapy is used for treating non- Hodgkin lymphoma. The name of this type of treatment is derived from the initial letters of the names of the chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of  cancer. The drugs used for the treatment include cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin and prednisone. One more drug has been recently added to this treatment regime and the name of the drug is rituximab. The name of the chemotherapy treatment has also been changed to R-CHOP chemotherapy. The side effects of these drugs vary and are dependent on the dosage of its drugs. However, before opting for this treatment, it is necessary for the patient to undergo the blood test.

What is R-CHOP Chemotherapy?

It is a kind of drug that is made by a combination of many drugs. The name of this chemical comes from the initials of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin, prednisolone. The drug rituximab is  newly added to the CHOP regime to speed up the treatment of this disease. It is a monoclonal antibody.

How is R-CHOP Chemotherapy used for Treatment?

Before infusing R-CHOP, the blood of the patient is taken for blood test on the same day when R-CHOP is to be infused or few days before it. The first dose of R-CHOP chemotherapy is given slowly after inducing a tube into your vein it may be painful but does not take much time. The drug is infused slowly as some people may have an allergy to the components of the drug if so, then the drug is infused and after the allergic reactions occur, the doctor will wait until the reactions slow down and then infuse it again. Rituximab starts its reaction within few hours after it is infused while the other CHOP drugs start reacting on the next day.The side effects mentioned below will not affect everybody. Here, we have listed those, which could be experience during treatment.

Chop Chemotherapy Side Effects

Everybody reacts differently to this drug. Some of the common chemotherapy side effects are:

• Flu like symptoms: Some people experience frequent changes in their body temperature, dizziness, headache and muscle aches. These symptoms occur while the drug is been infused but do not last longer.
• Change in blood pressure: Blood pressure can slow down due to rituximab. So, the patient’s blood pressure will be checked repeatedly. If you are using low blood pressure tablets, then consult your doctor about it. You may be asked to take them twelve hours before infusing rituximab.
• Allergic reaction: This is commonly seen but one does not need to fear about it. Signs of skin rashes or itching, cough and breathlessness, feeling of swelling in the tongue or throat, irritation in the nasal passage and wheezing are some of the common signs of allergy due to rituximab.
• Lowered resistance to infections: rituximab can reduce the production of white blood cells and eventually harm your immune system. The production of white blood cells will continue to drop down for the first ten to fourteen days but later will come to its normal level before the next cycle of dosage begins.
• Hair loss: After three to four weeks, of the treatment your hair will begin to fall in severe cases, this may continue until it falls off completely. The drug may also affect your eyelashes and eyebrows. However, do not worry, as your hair will begins to grow again after the treatment is over.

These were only some of the common side effects of CHOP chemotherapy. Some patients may experience other side effects as side effects vary for each patient and therefore any unusual change noticed in the patient must receive immediate medical advice.