1. Chemotherapy
Day 2

2. Chemotherapy
Curative- eliminate all cancer cells to achieve permanent cure
Adjuvant- kill cancer cells after therapy that cannot be detected
Neoadjuvant-done before surgery to shrink tumor to make it operable
Palliative- relieve symptoms, halt it, avoid complications

3. Chemotherapy Destroy rapidly producing cells
not “foreign” so your normal cells affected, too
hair loss, nausea, ulcers, mouth sores

4. How does it work?
Work on CELLULAR level to prevent cell division and reproduction
Restrict DNA replication

5. Alkylating Agents Bind to and damage DNA to prevent cell division
work in all phases of cell cycle
treats leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, multiple myeloma, sarcomas, lung, breast, ovarian cancer
can cause acute leukemia (RARE)

6. Antimetabolites
Interferes with DNA and RNA growth by substituting for building blocks for DNA and RNA
Damage cells in S phase
treat breast, ovarian, intestinal cancers

7. Antitumor Antibodies
Prevent DNA from uncoiling and interfere with DNA structure
Anthracyclines- interfere with enzymes for DNA replication
work in all phases of cell cycle
Can permanently damage heart if doses too high**

8. Topoisomerase Inhibitors
Interfere with enzymes that separate DNA strands
prevent DNA replication
treat leukemias, lung, ovarian, gastrointestinal cancers
secondary leukemia a possibility

9. Mitotic inhibitors Stop mitosis and interfere with enzyme activity
Work best during M phase of cell cycle, can damage cells in all phases
Treat breast, lung, myelomas, lymphomas, leukemias
potential nerve damage**

10. Corticosteroids Used to kill cancer cells Anti-emetics
used before other chemos to prevent allergic reactions