Using drugs to treat cancer is also known as chemotherapy. Often called "anticancer" drugs, chemotherapy drugs destroy uterine cancer cells by stunting their ability to grow and reproduce. Chemotherapy drugs are usually given intravenously, by injection or by mouth.
More than one drug will probably be used for your treatment. This is called combination chemotherapy. The drugs work together to kill more cancer cells.
Treatment can be once a day, once a week, or even once a month. It depends on the type of cancer you have and the chemo you are taking. How long you get chemo also depends on how your body responds to the drugs.
Some examples of drugs you may recieve:
Progestin theraphy:
Medroxyprogesterone (Provera).
Hydroxyprogesterone (Delalutin)
Chemotheraphy (Anti cancer drugs):
Cisplatin
Carboplatin
Doxorubicin
Topotecan
Anti nauseant and vomiting:
Odansetron
Dolasetron
promethazine
prochlorperazine
You might be aware that there are certain side effects that come with chemotheraphy. Some of the common side effects are:
- hair loss
- fatigue (tiredness)
- increased chance of bruising and bleeding
- anemia (low red blood cell count)
- nausea and vomiting
- infection
Your doctor may prescribe drugs to counter these side effects. That is why it is normal for a patient undergoing chemotherapy to be on a few drugs at a time.
