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Chemotherapy for breast cancer
By Mayo Clinic staffChemotherapy drugs are designed to enter the bloodstream, travel throughout your body and destroy cancer cells. These drugs are given as pills or injections. Chemotherapy is usually given over three to six months anywhere from weekly to two- or three-week cycles. For instance, if you had chemotherapy today, you might receive the next treatment in three weeks, allowing for a period of recovery between treatments.
Dose-dense therapy
Researchers are investigating the effectiveness of condensing the treatment schedule, a method called dose-dense therapy. In this situation, treatments are given every one or two weeks instead of every three weeks. Theoretically, dose-dense therapy limits cancer cell regrowth between treatment cycles. Study results of its effectiveness are mixed.
Chemotherapy drugs
The following chemotherapy drugs are commonly used for the treatment of breast cancer.
- Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) interferes with the growth of cancer cells by blocking the copying of DNA. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, hair loss, lowered blood counts, mouth sores and absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea).
- Docetaxel (Taxotere) is from the group of drugs called taxanes. Taxanes disrupt cell division by interfering with cellular machinery that separates a dividing cell into two new cells. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, hair thinning or loss, lowered blood counts, rash, numbness in hands or feet, and nail changes.
- Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) belongs to the general group of medicines known as anthracyclines. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, lowered blood counts, and darkening of nail beds and skin creases on hands.
- Epirubicin (Ellence) also belongs to the general group of medicines known as anthracyclines. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, lowered blood counts, sores in mouth, amenorrhea and fatigue.
- Fluorouracil (Adrucil), also called 5-FU, is a drug that interferes with the growth of cancer cells by blocking enzymes necessary for DNA synthesis — the ability of cancer cells to copy their genetic material. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair thinning, lowered blood counts, mouth sores, skin darkening, brittle nails and an increased sensitivity to the sun.
- Methotrexate (Trexall) works by blocking an enzyme required by cells to live. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, mouth sores, increased risk of sunburn and skin changes in areas treated with radiation.
- Paclitaxel (Taxol), like docetaxel, also comes from the group of drugs called taxanes. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhea, hair loss, lowered blood counts, muscle aches, numbness or tingling in fingers or toes, mild mouth inflammation, and fatigue.
