Chemotherapy Drugs for Lung Cancer

Chemotherapy Drugs for Lung Cancer


Chemotherapy is the treatment for cancer using drugs. Various chemotherapy drugs are used to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be used on their own (single drug chemotherapy) or in combinations (combination chemotherapy) to treat cancer. Combination chemotherapy is commonly used.

There are different types of lung cancer. The two most common are non small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Patients with different types of lung cancer receive different combinations of chemotherapy drugs. There are different chemotherapy drugs available to treat lung cancer. Following are the chemotherapy drugs which are used most commonly used to treat lung cancer:

* Carboplatin
* Cisplatin
* Docetaxel
* Etoposide
* Gemcitabine
* Irinotecan
* Paclitaxel
* Vinorelbine
* Pemetrexed
* Erlotinib
* Topotecan

These chemotherapy drugs are mostly used in combination of two or more drugs. This is called combination chemotherapy. Combination chemotherapy is more effective than single drug chemotherapy. Different combination of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat lung cancer which include:

* Carboplatin and paclitaxel
* Vinorelbine and cisplatin or carboplatin
* Gemcitabine with cisplatin or carboplatin
* MIC (mitomycin, ifosfamide and cisplatin)
* EC (etoposide and carboplatin)

There are different ways by which chemotherapy drug is administered. These methods include injection into a vein (intravenously), orally (drugs in the form of tablets, liquid or capsule). Chemotherapy treatment is given in cycles. Each cycle of chemotherapy contain treatment period and rest or recovery period. Recovery period allows your body to recover from any side effects of the treatment. Chemotherapy can be given at outpatient department of hospital, at home, doctor’s office or clinic.

Chemotherapy drugs for lung cancer can be given before surgery (neo-adjuvant chemotherapy) or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can also be given in combination of chemotherapy to treat lung cancer. Different combination of chemotherapy drugs are applied depending on stages of lung cancer. Discuss all available choices for treating lung cancer with your doctor.

As chemotherapy drugs damage normal body cells along with cancer cells, it can cause some unpleasant side effects. Usually skin, gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow and scalp (hair follicles) tissues are affected mostly due to chemotherapy treatment. Side effects associated with chemotherapy depends on chemotherapy drugs are being used, method of administration, length of chemotherapy, amount of dose, patients overall health condition.

Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss, memory loss, diarrhea, mouth sores, eyes sore, skin rashes, infection, low blood cell count and bleeding are the common side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can also affect fertility. Consult your doctor before treatment if you are concerned about fertility. However, most of these side effects are temporary and will disappear once treatment is over. Consult your doctor immediately if you fell unwell during treatment.