Induction Chemotherapy

 

Induction chemotherapy is usually given to check the response of a patient towards a particular drug. Doctors usually give induction chemotherapy before prescribing aggressive chemotherapy to the patient. The chemotherapy drugs are either given as an oral pill or intravenous chemotherapy injections. The dosage and drugs vary followed by a recovery period. Patients are usually given induction chemotherapy in 3-4 cycles over a period of six months to one year.

Induction chemotherapy destroys the cancer cells thereby reducing the growing mass. Doctors may use a blend of medicines in induction chemotherapy. The chemotherapy drugs fail to distinguish between a cancer cell and a normal cell. In doing so, the chemotherapy treatment disrupts normally functioning cells like hair cells, gastrointestinal cells, bone marrow cells and cells lining the stomach.

Some common side effects that are resultant of induction chemotherapy are outlined below:

  1. Nausea and vomiting
  2. Lowered immunity to infectionsSide Effects of Induction Chemotherapy
  3. Bruising and bleeding
  4. Lowered appetite and diarrhea
  5. Anemia
  6. A dull and pale appearance
  7. Hair fall

However, the side effects are short lived and disappear once the treatment is completed. One must unfailingly approach their health care professional in case of any irregularities during induction chemotherapy.

Doctors mostly use myeloma or bone marrow cancer chemotherapy drugs in induction chemotherapy these include:

  1. Dexamethasone
  2. Ortho-biotech
  3. DVD
  4. VAD
  5. Vincristine
  6. Doxorubicin
  7. Cyclophosphamide
  8. Thalidomide
  9. Methasone

Induction chemotherapy dictates high use of chemotherapeutic drugs. This could predispose a patient to chemotherapy drugs and increases their strength and response for further treatment. Induction chemotherapy also known as conventional chemotherapy is given before stem cell transplantation if stem cells are affected with cancer it needs to be transplanted after the treatment is given. Doctors may use induction chemotherapy to shrink the tumor considerably before transplantation.