A brief discription about chemotherapy

1. Faculty Of Pharmacy
Naraina Vidya Peeth
Group Of Institutions
TOPIC – IMPACT OF
CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC
DRUGS ON PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER
Presented by – Shikhar Singh
B.Pharm 2nd Year

2. 1- What is Chemotherapy ?
2-Purpose of Chemotherapy ?
3- Classification of Chemotherapy
4- Why does chemo cause side effects
5- How long do side effects last ?
6- What are common side effects of
chemo ?

3. -Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful
chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body.
-Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer, since
cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most
cells in the body.
-Many different chemotherapy drugs are available.
Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination to
treat a wide variety of cancers.
-Though chemotherapy is an effective way to treat many
types of cancer, chemotherapy treatment also carries a risk
WHAT IS
CHEMOTHERAPY?

4. PURPOSE OF
CHEMOTHERAPY ?
-Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in people with cancer.
-There are a variety of settings in which chemotherapy may be used in people with
cancer:
-To cure the cancer without other treatments.
-After other treatments, to kill hidden cancer
cells.
-To prepare you for other treatments.
-To ease signs and symptoms.

5. CLASSIFICATION OF
CHEMOTHERAPY
-Cancer chemotherapy agents are classified according to their chemical nature and
function.
Alkylating agents -
-These agents damage DNA and prevent mitosis. They are used to treat
leukemia, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, sarcoma and lung, breast, and ovarian
cancer. Examples of drugs in this class include:
.Nitrogen mustards such as chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and
melphalan
-Alkylsulfonates such as busulfan
-Nitrosoureas such as streptozotocin, carmustine, and lomustine
-Triazines such as dacarbazine
-Ethylenimines such as thiotepa and altretamine
-Platinum drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin and oxalaplatin

6. -Antimetabolites
These agents interrupt the S phase and substitute normal DNA and RNA with other amino acids,
thereby interfering with cell replication and proliferation.
Examples of drugs in this class include 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, methotrexate,
pentostatin and thioguanine.
-Anthracyclines
Anthracyclines are anti-tumor antibiotics that inhibit the enzymes that bring about DNA
replication. Examples of drugs in this class include doxorubicin, idarubicin and epirubicin.
-Topoisomerase inhibitors
These agents inhibit the enzyme topoisomerase which would usually help untangle DNA strands
so they can be replicated. They are used to treat leukemia and lung, ovarian and gut cancer.
Examples include topotecan, irinotecan, etoposide and teniposide.
-Plant alkaloids
Also called mitotic inhibitors, these drugs interrupt the M phase of the cell cycle and inhibit
mitosis. They are used to treat breast and lung cancers and myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Examples of drugs in this class include taxanes such as paclitaxel and docetaxel, vinca alkaloids
such as vinblastine, vincristine and vinorelbine.
-Corticosteroids
This drug class includes naturally occurring hormones such as the steroid hormones as well as
artificially synthesized analogues of these hormones. They are used to treat lymphoma,
leukemia and multiple myeloma and examples include prednisone, methylprednisolone and
dexamethasone.

7. Why does chemo
cause side effects?
Cancer cells tend to grow fast, and chemo drugs kill fast-growing cells. But because these
drugs travel throughout the body, they can affect normal, healthy cells that are fast-growing,
too. Damage to healthy cells causes side effects. Side effects are not always as bad as you
might expect, but it's normal to worry about this part of cancer treatment.
The normal cells most likely to be
damaged by chemo are:
.Blood-forming cells in the bone marrow
.Hair follicles
.Cells in the mouth, digestive tract, and reproductive system
.Some chemo drugs can damage cells in the heart, kidneys, bladder, lungs, and nervous
system.
.Doctors try to give chemo at levels high enough to treat cancer, while keeping side effects at
a minimum. They also try to avoid using multiple drugs that have similar side effects.

8. How long do side effects last?
.Many side effects go away fairly quickly, but some might take
months or even years to go away completely. These are called
late effects.
.Sometimes the side effects can last a lifetime, such as when
chemo causes long-term damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or
reproductive organs. Certain types of chemo sometimes cause
delayed effects, such as a second cancer that may show up many
years later.
.People often become discouraged about how long their treatment
lasts or the side effects they have. If you feel this way, talk to your
cancer care team. You may be able to change your medicine or
treatment schedule. They also may be able to suggest ways to
reduce any pain and discomfort you have.

9. What are common side effects o
chemo?
-Fatigue
-Hair loss
-Easy bruising and bleeding
-Infection
-Anemia (low red blood cell counts)
-Nausea and vomiting
-Appetite changes
-Constipation
-Diarrhea
-Mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing
-Peripheral neuropathy or other nerve problems, such as numbness, tingling, and pain
-Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change
-Urine and bladder changes and kidney problems
-Weight changes
-Chemo brain, which can affect concentration and focus
-Mood changes
-Changes in libido and sexual function