Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of medications or chemicals with cancer-fighting abilities.  Normal, healthy cells divide and grow in a patterned behavior.  As they divide, a replica is produced.  Cancer cells, on the other hand, grow uncontrollably.  There is no pattern at all.  When in contact with a normal cell, the cancer cell takes over and copies itself many times over.  In this way, the body becomes overburdened with cancer cells.  Chemotherapy destroys these cancer cells.  

Chemotherapy drugs interfere with the cancer cells' ability to grow or multiply.  Different groups of drugs act on cells in different ways.  Identification of the type of cancer is important, because certain chemotherapies are given only for certain diseases.  For example, a patient with acute mylegoneous leukemia is treated with different chemotherapy drugs than one with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (like Greg). 

Unfortunately, the drugs used in chemotherapy also affect normal cells, which is why people lose their hair.  (The hair follicle is a rapidly dividing cell, which is why it is usually destroyed during chemotherapy.)   It is important to note that ALL body hair is affected by chemotherapy, not just the hair on your head.  Once the chemotherapy has ended, the hair usually returns.  Normally there is no permanent damage, however, the hair may come back another color or curlier, and will definitely be softer (because this is basically "new" hair -- rather like a baby's).  Greg' hair was very straw-like before his first chemotherapy back in 1992.  Once it grew back, it was darker, and curlier, and as soft as a newborn baby's! 

Chemotherapy drugs can be given in different ways.  Greg's were given either intravenously or orally.  One of the drugs Greg took orally was Prednisone, which is a steroid.  This was to help the chemotherapy on its course through the body.  From what I understand, most people undergoing chemo are given steroids.  Because steroids also help a body to "bulk up," (think athletes and illegal drugs), people going through chemo often gain weight, and therefore do not look ill.  The weight gain is usually caused by the steroids. 

Many times, a person undergoing chemotherapy will feel nauseous.  There are numerous drugs available to counteract that symptom.  Greg has never, EVER, thrown up during chemo.  That is because at the first sign of nauseousness, he would take his anti-nausea medication (Compazine) and try to forget that feeling.  The mind is a very powerful weapon in the war against cancer.  If you go into chemo thinking you are GOING TO BE ILL, you most likely WILL BECOME ILL.  Greg has always done a wonderful job of putting mind over matter.  It really, really works.  Also, he is not afraid to tell the nurses when he is becomming nauseous, so he is immediately given medication.  During Greg's high-dose chemo, he was given Compazine or Antavan either before or during chemo to avoid that rather unpleasant side-effect before it had an opportunity to start.  The most important thing is to not be afraid to tell the doctor or nurse what you are feeling.  They cannot help you if they do not know what you are feeling.  There are drugs out there to counter-act almost any side-effect.  All you have to do is ASK. 

In this photo, Greg is receiving some of the "high-dose" chemotherapy given in preparation for the transplant.  He was admitted to the hospital Thursday morning, chemo was started Thursday evening and continued until Sunday evening.  The small bag at the top of the IV pole is one of the chemotherapy drugs.  The larger bag at the bottom is simply saline solution.  During chemo, the patient usually receives saline solution as an aid, to enable the chemo to course through the body faster.  Chemotherapy is usually given as a combination of different drugs, all with varying side effects.  The drugs Greg was given as chemotherapy are listed below.  More information on other drugs given in combination with chemotherapy can also be found on Greg's Medications Page.

I know that before Greg had his first chemo back in 1992, I had NO IDEA how chemo was administered.  I just assumed that it was something awful, and never really thought about how it was administered.  I'm hoping this page and the picture will help others to understand what chemo is all about, and what I learned throughout Greg's illness.

CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE (a/k/a Cytoxan):  CHEMO DRUG -- Again, special precautions must be taken with this drug.  This drug is given in the IV in a one-hour time span. This drug causes tiredness, muscle and joint pain, mouth sores, and a whole lot of other potential side effects.  This is also the drug that will cause Greg to lose his hair. 

CYTARABINE (a/k/a Ara-C):  CHEMO DRUG -- Special precautions must be taken with this drug because it can impair kidney and bladder function.  Extra fluids need to pass through the kidneys and bladder to keep them working properly.  If enough fluid is not passed, a drug called LASIX (sp?) is commonly used as a diuretic to enable the body to release fluids.  This drug is given in the IV (hickman).  This drug also has numerous side effects, including nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, stomach pain, joint pain, and a host of other potential problems.