Chemical treatment is one of the main ways to fight cancer. Currently, many drugs have been discovered in medicine with anticancer activity. All of them are actively used to treat patients and are divided into several groups depending on the mechanism of action, composition and many other factors.
So, for example, chemotherapy can be divided by color. The color of each of them depends on the drugs that relate to it. Therefore, it is white, yellow, blue, and finally red. Below we will talk about it.
What does red chemotherapy mean?
First of all, you need to understand which drugs belong to this category.
The main drugs that are used as red chemotherapy:
- Idarubicin.
- Epirubicin.
- "Doxorubicin."
All of them belong to the same therapeutic group, since they are similar in composition. In addition, these preparations have a characteristic bright red color.
Therefore, among patients, red chemotherapy is also called the "devil."
This type of therapy can be used as the main treatment method, as well as in the postoperative period in order to prevent new tumor growth.
Mechanism of action
The mechanism of action of these drugs is similar and is as follows:
- DNA splitting of tumor cells under the influence of the enzyme topoisomerase-2.
- In addition, these substances interfere with the transcription process - an obligatory stage of the full spread of the fatal tumor.
- "Epirubicin" is involved in some biochemical reactions of the body, contributing to the production of radicals toxic to malignant cells, thereby killing them.
Indications for use
Due to their high anticancer activity, drugs have a wide list of indications, which include cancer:
- Bladder,
- breast cancer
- stomach
- esophagus
- blood (acute leukemia),
- lung
- ovaries
- pancreas,
- prostate gland
- rectum.
In addition, red chemotherapy drugs for neck and head cancer can be prescribed, as well as for patients:
- with multiple myeloma
- Hodgkin's disease
- soft tissue sarcoma and so on.
Contraindications
Like any other drug, each of the representatives of red chemotherapy has a number of contraindications, which include:
- Strong exhaustion of the body. The fact is that these drugs have a number of side effects, which can especially harm a weak body.
- Intoxication. In this state, a person simply can not withstand the additional load.
- Damage to the liver, cirrhosis, the presence of metastases in it, as well as a high level of bilirubin in the blood. Under these conditions, the liver will not be able to properly cope with the load in the form of red chemotherapy. And she, by the way, inflicts a serious blow to this vital organ.
These are contraindications common to all chemotherapeutic drugs.
Conditions in which the use of red chemotherapy is unacceptable will be as follows:
- Pregnancy at any time.
- Lactation.
- Hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
- Severe heart failure, severe arrhythmia.
- The patient has a recent history of myocardial infarction.
- When using the drug for the treatment of bladder cancer and intracavitary administration of a drug, the infection process in this organ (cystitis), as well as the presence of blood in the urine, are contraindications.
Side effects
The drugs of this group have high anticancer activity, but they also have a toxic effect on healthy cells and tissues of the human body. It is for this reason that they have a number of undesirable side reactions.
- Lack of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Hair loss throughout the body.
- Temperature rise.
- Swelling and damage to the venous wall at the injection site.
- Decrease in the level of leukocytes, as well as platelets in the blood.
- Shortness of breath, palpitations.
- The development of heart failure.
- Ascites.
- Damage to the liver, kidneys.
- Thromboembolism.
- Pulmonary embolism.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Stomatitis.
- Urine staining in bright red. This will mean that the drug began to be excreted from the body. Usually this symptom disappears after two days after using the product.
All these side effects are manifested to varying degrees in each patient and do not always require the abolition of red chemotherapy.
Nevertheless, the body needs to be given rest and restore strength. Therefore, after red chemotherapy, each of its courses is sure to need a break (on average, two weeks). During this time, the patient will be able to "move away" from the side effects of the drug.
How is red chemotherapy tolerated?
Everyone who has been prescribed this type of treatment by a treating oncologist has a similar question. After all, it is very important to have an idea of what awaits a person with such treatment. And most importantly, what needs to be done to more easily survive the courses of the "red" dropper. Chemotherapy is an aggressive treatment method, so you need to be as prepared as possible.
It should be sorted out in order. The way the body will respond to this treatment is individual for each patient. Nevertheless, side effects to one degree or another develop in everyone. Someone is simply not at ease, there is a feeling of weakness and nausea, and someone has severe vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, hair loss.
In order to minimize the effects of red chemotherapy, oncologists recommend the following:
- The patient should lead a measured lifestyle, have a lot of rest. Sleep, as you know, is the best medicine. It is important to be in the fresh air regularly. To the extent possible, take daily walks.
- Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. An adult needs at least two liters of water per day. This will help the body quickly clear of metabolites, and also reduce the burden on the kidneys.
- It is necessary to maintain proper nutrition, excluding fatty, sweet, spicy and smoked foods from the diet. In addition, you should eat protein, greens, vegetables and fruits daily. It is also important to eat fractionally and regularly. This will help the gastrointestinal tract to quickly cope with the entry of chemicals into the body.
- Be sure to have a hearty breakfast or lunch before conducting red chemotherapy. It is unacceptable to carry out the procedure on an empty stomach. This can significantly increase the severity of side effects.
- No less important is the moral attitude of the patient. At least 50% of success depends on this. If a person believes in a positive outcome, then he will certainly be so.
Drug support
Since it is quite difficult to transfer red chemotherapy, treating oncologists resort to using drugs that can alleviate the patient’s condition after a course of chemistry:
- Probiotics ("Hilak forte", "Linex", "Acipol" and others). Since the digestive tract is the first to suffer, taking the brunt of chemistry, it is necessary to protect it. These drugs populate the damaged intestines with new beneficial bacteria.
- Hepatoprotectors ("Heptor", "Phosphogliv", "Heptral" and others). These agents effectively repair liver cells, supporting its healthy functioning.
- Painkillers (Ibuprofen, Dexalgin, Tramadol). The drugs in this group differ in strength and may not be prescribed by a doctor at all if the patient does not complain of pain.
- In addition, oncologists have recently resorted to the appointment of various useful biological additives that can alleviate the patient's condition. For example, there is soya lecithin. It protects the cells of the liver, blood vessels and brain from the damaging effects of drugs. And Reishi mushroom extract makes it easier to tolerate chemotherapy. Selenium prevents the further development of a malignant tumor.
It should be said that any of the listed funds should be used only after consulting a doctor.
Conclusion
Red chemotherapy is an effective method of combating cancer, not without a number of contraindications and unwanted adverse reactions from the patient's body.
Proper and timely preparation for chemistry can minimize its effects. Be healthy!