First line chemotherapy is also termed as standard chemotherapy that offers the most effective drugs for the treatment of cancer. It is first treatment that is offered to patients undergoing cancer treatment. This treatment is usually accepted as the standard treatment for treating a given type of cancer. It is usually accepted after conducting a lot of research and trials on that treatment. In case the patients do not respond to first line chemotherapy or cancer recurs after the treatment, then they give second line treatment to these patients.

There are patients who do not show any improvement after giving the first line chemotherapy, or cancer can recur after this treatment. For these people, second line chemotherapy or an aggressive chemotherapy is usually the next treatment option. The oncologist is the best person to decide the course of treatment. In some patients who have advanced stages of cancer, the doctors might consider giving induction chemotherapy to patients before surgery.

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to cure cancer. These drugs destroy the cancer cells that grow at a very fast rate. The drugs are given in high doses to kill all the cancer cells. In an attempt to destroy cancer cells, a few other fast growing healthy cells are also destroyed such as the red blood cells, white blood cells, hair follicles and platelets. Patients in most cases experience some side effects because of this. In rare cases patients show a lot of side effects which could be dangerous as well. Side effects depend upon a lot of factors such as the amount of drug dosage, the type of drugs as well as physical health of the patients. The drugs are therefore administered in cycles with ample amount of rest for the body to recover from the side effects. First line chemotherapy for this reason is given effectively to combat cancer in the initial stages.

In some cases first line chemotherapy might not work if the cancer is diagnosed at a later stage. In some rare cases the therapy might also not work in the initial stages if the cancer grows or if it becomes strong. In such cases some additional treatment is given to treat the cancer.

First line chemotherapy usually provides the best chances of survival among cancer patients. There are greater chances of the cancer to be irradiated if the cancer is attacked during inception or during the primary phase of the development of cancer. If the first line chemotherapy does not work in patients they should be prepared for a more aggressive method of treatment.

Since cancer differs from person to person as far as the severity and the stage of the cancer is concerned the type of first line treatment or chemotherapy is given keeping all these factors in mind. It is not always possible for cancer patients to find the most suitable treatment to cure the cancer completely. There is also a risk of the cancer coming back. It is important for the cancer patients to consult a qualified oncologist or expert medical professional to take the best opinion. Patients can also take two opinions to check if the opinions are similar and the treatment is given in the lines of the cancer that is been detected.

The type of drugs administered for first line cancers varies on the basis of the cancer type and the stage. For example, for the treatment of tongue cancer the first line and the second line chemotherapy given will not be the same as treatment for advanced stage prostate cancer.To cure ovarian cancer, a lot of first line chemotherapy drugs are used including, taxol, alkeran, platinol, paraplatin and adriamycin rubex. Apart from this to treat mesothelioma, the drug alimta/cisplatin is considered very effective. Mesothelioma is a cancer that grows in the lining of lungs.

The treatment schedule for first line chemotherapy also differs based on the cancer severity and on individual results. In some cases the treatment might be stopped if the body does not react very well with the medications and show very severe side effects.
It is important for cancer patients to go through a lot of references such as the internet or books and do not take whatever medical advisors say at face value; they can always take a second opinion if they want to find out about other treatment options.

They can join a support group where they can talk to fellow patients suffering from the same disease to share their thoughts. Making oneself aware of the condition would go a long way in curing the disease and the precautions that one need to take during the treatment.

The treatment schedule for first line chemotherapy also differs based on the cancer severity and on individual results. In some cases the treatment might be stopped if the body does not react very well with the medications and show very severe side effects.

If you are not satisfied with the treatment options provided to you by your oncologist, you can always take a second opinion. You can also read various books and journals to know more about these treatments and drugs. You can also join a support group or attend counseling sessions where you can voice your concerns with other cancer survivors. All this helps to cope with the struggle against cancer. It is important for cancer patients to go through a lot of references such as the Internet or books and do not take whatever medical advisors say at face value. They should make themselves aware of their conditions and also talk to fellow patients suffering from the same disease to share their thoughts. Making oneself aware of the condition would go a long way in curing the disease and the precautions that one need to take during the treatment.