The faster the cells are dividing, the more likely it is that chemotherapy will kill the cells, causing the tumor to shrink. They also induce cell suicide self-death or apoptosis.
Chemotherapy drugs that affect cells only when they are dividing are called cell-cycle specific. Chemotherapy drugs that affect cells when they are at rest are called cell-cycle non-specific. The scheduling of chemotherapy is set based on the type of cells, rate at which they divide, and the time at which a given drug is likely to be effective.
This is why chemotherapy is typically given in cycles. Chemotherapy is most effective at killing cells that are rapidly dividing. Unfortunately, chemotherapy does not know the difference between the cancerous cells and the normal cells. The "normal" cells will grow back and be healthy but in the meantime, side effects occur. Different drugs may affect different parts of the body. Vincristine belongs to a class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids.
Plant alkaloids are made from plants. The vinca alkaloids are made from the periwinkle plant catharanthus rosea. The taxanes are made from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree taxus.
The vinca alkaloids and taxanes are also known as antimicrotubule agents. The podophyllotoxins are derived from the May Apple plant. Camptothecan analogs are derived from the Asian "Happy Tree" Camptotheca acuminata. Podophyllotoxins and camptothecan analogs are also known as topoisomerase inhibitors. The plant alkaloids are cell-cycle specific. This means they attack the cells during various phases of division.
Antimicrotubule agents such as Vincristine , inhibit the microtubule structures within the cell. Microtubules are part of the cell's apparatus for dividing and replicating itself. Inhibition of these structures ultimately results in cell death.
Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. You have the treatment through a drip into your arm or hand.
A nurse puts a small tube a cannula into one of your veins and connects the drip to it. You might need a central line. This is a long plastic tube that gives the drugs into a large vein, either in your chest or through a vein in your arm. You have blood tests before and during your treatment. They check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood.
They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working. We haven't listed all the side effects. It's very unlikely that you will have all of these side effects, but you might have some of them at the same time.
How often and how severe the side effects are can vary from person to person. They also depend on what other treatments you're having. For example, your side effects could be worse if you're also having other drugs or radiotherapy.
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will go through the possible side effects. They will monitor you closely during treatment and check how you are at your appointments. Contact your advice line as soon as possible if:.
Increased risk of getting an infection is due to a drop in white blood cells. Symptoms include a change in temperature, aching muscles, headaches, feeling cold and shivery and generally unwell.
You might have other symptoms depending on where the infection is. Infections can sometimes be life threatening. You should contact your advice line urgently if you think you have an infection. You could lose all your hair. This includes your eyelashes, eyebrows, underarm, leg and sometimes pubic hair. Your hair will usually grow back once treatment has finished but it is likely to be softer.
It may grow back a different colour or be curlier than before. Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes is often temporary and can improve after you finish treatment. Tell your doctor if you're finding it difficult to walk or complete fiddly tasks such as doing up buttons. Tiredness and weakness fatigue can happen during and after treatment - doing gentle exercises each day can keep your energy up.
Always let your doctor know if you have wheezing, coughing, fever, or if you are out of breath. If necessary, tests can be done to check your lungs. Vincristine can affect the nervous system. You may feel dizzy or unsteady. Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you have any of these symptoms. They can make changes in your treatment if they become a problem for you.
It is important not to drive or operate machinery if you notice these effects. In rare cases, this treatment can cause seizures. In rare cases, vincristine can affect your vision. Always tell your doctor or nurse if you have soreness in the eyes or notice any changes in your vision. It is important to tell your doctor immediately if you feel unwell or have severe side effects, even if these are not among those mentioned above. Cancer and chemotherapy increase the chances of a blood thrombosis.
The symptoms include pain, reddening or swelling in a leg, difficulty breathing, and pain in the chest. Get in touch with your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms.
Some medicines can interact with chemotherapy or be harmful if they are taken alongside chemotherapy. This includes medications that can be purchased in a store or pharmacy. Tell your doctor the medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter medications, complementary therapies, and herbal medicines.
Vincristine may affect your fertility. If this worries you, you can talk to your doctor before beginning treatment. Your doctor will advise you not to become pregnant during the treatment. This is because the drugs can harm developing babies. It is important to use contraception during chemotherapy and for a few months after the treatment ends.
If you have sex within the first few days after chemotherapy, it is necessary to use a condom. This is to protect your partner in case there is chemotherapy in semen or vaginal fluid. Women are recommended not to breastfeed during treatment and for a few months after chemotherapy has concluded. This is in case the chemotherapy enters their breast milk. If you have to go to the hospital for whatever reason other than cancer, always tell the doctors and nurses that you are having chemotherapy.
Talk to your cancer doctor or nurse if you think you need dental treatment. Always let your dentist know that you are having chemotherapy. Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram. Web Map. Contact us at Chemotherapy drugs may be given in the following ways: Through a thin tube line inserted into a vein in the arm or hand by a nurse Through a tube that goes below the skin of your chest to a nearby vein central line Through a thin tube that is placed in a vein of the arm and goes up through a vein toward the chest PICC Your nurse may give you vincristine as a direct injection into your cannula or line.
Administering chemotherapy Some people may have side effects while they are receiving chemotherapy. You have symptoms of infection, which may include sore throat, coughing, or the need to urinate frequently. SEX If you have sex within the first few days after chemotherapy, it is necessary to use a condom. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. If the number of red blood cells is low, this is called anaemia. You may have symptoms such as:. If you are very anaemic, you may need a drip to give you extra red blood cells.
This is called a blood transfusion. This treatment can cause constipation. Constipation means that you are not able to pass stools poo as often as you normally do. It can become difficult or painful. Here are some tips that may help:.
If you have constipation, contact the hospital for advice. Your doctor can give you drugs called laxatives to help.
If you have diarrhoea , contact the hospital for advice. It can help to avoid alcohol, caffeine, milk products, high-fat foods and high-fibre foods.
Your doctor will give you anti-sickness drugs to help prevent or control sickness during your treatment.
Take the drugs exactly as your nurse or pharmacist tells you. It is easier to prevent sickness than to treat it after it has started. If you feel sick , take small sips of fluids often and eat small amounts regularly.
It is important to drink enough fluids. If you continue to feel sick, or are sick vomit more than once in 24 hours, contact the hospital as soon as possible.
They will give you advice. Your doctor or nurse may change the anti-sickness drug to one that works better for you. Loss of appetite This treatment can affect your appetite. Do not worry if you do not eat much for a day or two. But if your appetite does not come back after a few days, tell your nurse or dietitian. They may give you food or drink supplements.
Feeling tired is a common side effect. Try to pace yourself and plan your day so you have time to rest. Gentle exercise, like short walks, can give you more energy. If you feel sleepy, do not drive or operate machinery. This treatment affects the nerves, which can cause numb, tingling or painful hands or feet. You may find it hard to fasten buttons or do other fiddly tasks. Tell your doctor if you have these symptoms.
They sometimes need to lower the dose of the drug. The symptoms usually improve slowly after treatment finishes, but for some people they may never go away. Talk to your doctor if you are worried about this. This treatment may cause a sore mouth and throat. You may also get mouth ulcers. This can make you more likely to get a mouth or throat infection.
Use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth or dentures in the morning, at night and after meals. Sucking ice chips may sometimes help relieve mouth or throat pain. But if you are having radiotherapy to the head or neck, do not suck on ice.
It can cause damage. This treatment may affect your skin. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what to expect. If your skin feels dry, try using an unperfumed moisturising cream every day. Always tell your doctor or nurse about any changes to the skin.
They can give you advice and may prescribe creams or medicines to help. The skin usually returns to normal after treatment finishes.
Your hair will get thinner. Or you may lose all the hair from your head. You may also lose your eyelashes and eyebrows, as well as other body hair. Hair loss usually starts after your first or second treatment. Your nurse can talk to you about ways to cope with [hair loss]. There are ways to cover up hair loss if you want to. Your scalp may be sensitive. It is important to cover your head to protect your skin when you are out in the sun. Hair loss is almost always temporary. Your hair will usually grow back after treatment ends.
Chemotherapy may affect how your liver works. This is usually mild and goes back to normal after treatment. You will have blood tests to check how well your liver is working.
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