Chemo 101
This is the primary purpose/MOA of chemotherapy.
What is to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells?
These are the chemo agents included in the CHOP regimen.
What is cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), doxorubicin (hydroxydaunorubicin), vincristine (Oncovin), and prednisone?
Patients are often premedicated with antiemetics to prevent this.
What is nausea and vomiting?
Before each cycle of chemo, this lab value is checked to assess WBC counts.
What is absolute neutrophil count (ANC)?
This term refers to chemo given BEFORE surgery to shrink tumors.
What is neoadjuvant therapy?
These are the chemo agents included in the ABVD regimen.
What is doxorubicin (Adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine?
This blood-related side effect increases infection risk.
What is neutropenia?
This injection can boost WBC production during chemo.
What is filgrastim (Neupogen) or pegfilgrastim (Neulasta)?
This term refers to chemo given AFTER surgery to kill remaining cancer cells.
What is adjuvant therapy?
These are the chemo agents included in the FOLFIRINOX regimen.
What is leucovorin (folinic acid), fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin?
This condition involves nerve damage, causing tingling or numbness.
What is peripheral neuropathy?
This electrolyte is given with cisplatin to protect the kidneys.
What is magnesium?
This cell characteristic makes cancer more vulnerable to chemo.
What is rapid cell division?
This antimetabolite is used to treat multiple cancers as well as RA.
What is methotrexate?
This side effect primarily involves sores in the mouth and throat but can be present anywhere along the GI tract.
What is mucositis?
This oral medication is recommended to combat bone pain related to pegfilgrastim use.
What is loratadine?
These are the two overarching classifications of chemo as it pertains to their MOAs.
What is cell-cycle specific and cell-cycle non-specific?
This alkylating agent is known to cause hemorrhagic cystitis and increase the risk of secondary leukemia.
What is cyclophosphamide?
This drug causes cardiotoxicity via oxidative stress and free radical production.
What is doxorubicin?
This oral medication is given with docetaxel to lessen fluid retention.
What is dexamethasone?