Chemotherapy is a treatment method for various types of cancer. It requires the use of one or more drugs which destroy or prevent the growth of cancer cells. According to the American Cancer Association, these drugs are divided into groups based on their chemical structure, how they interact with other drugs and how they work within the body. While the list of chemotherapy drugs is numerous, your doctor will choose the one for you based on your overall health and the type of cancer you have.
Cisplatin
Cisplatin belongs to the class of drugs known as alkylating agents according to Drugs.com, which work in all phases of the cancer cell cycle. Cisplatin is typically administered intravenously (through a vein), and is most commonly used to treat ovarian, bladder and testicular cancer, although it may be used to treat lung cancer, chronic and acute leukemia and Hodgkin's disease.
Side effects include but are not limited to nausea and vomiting for a period of 24 hours or more, decreased blood cell counts, kidney damage and a continuous change in electrolytes.
Docetaxel
Docetaxel falls under the category of mitotic inhibitors which prevent body enzymes from producing the proteins necessary for cancer cell reproduction. Administered intravenously, docetaxel is primarily used to treat lung, breast and prostrate cancer, although it is effective in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma as well.
Side effects you may encounter include thinning of your hair; gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting; loss of appetite and a numbness or tingling in your hands and feet.
Fluorouracil
Fluorouracil is categorized as an antimetabolite, a class of chemotherapy drugs that interfere with abnormal DNA and RNA (molecules containing genetic information of each cell) growth, replacing them with normal molecules. Typically administered intravenously, fluorouracil is used to treat a variety of cancers such as stomach, colon, breast, neck and head.
Side effects associated with this drug include diarrhea, mouth sores, dry skin, decreased blood cell count and photosensity (increased sensitivity to sunlight).
Irinotecan
Irinotecan is a plant alkaloid, classifying it as a mitotic inhibitor according to the American Cancer Society. It, too, prevents the production of proteins needed for cancer cell reproduction, and is administered intravenously. Irinotecan is frequently used to treat cancers of both the colon and rectum.
The side effects it may produce include diarrhea, decreased blood cell count and hair loss which is considered reversible. Once your treatments have ended, your hair will begin to grow back.
Methotrexate
Methotrexate, another antimetabolite, helps rebuild molecules, replacing damaged DNA with healthy DNA. It has three routes of administration: Intravenously, orally and intrathecally (injected into the spinal column). Methotrexate is primarily used to treat cancers of the breast, bone, blood, lungs and lymph nodes.
Its side effects include nausea and vomiting; skin rashes; kidney damage; reversible hair loss; decreased blood cell count; mouth sores and headaches or dizziness.
Carboplatin
An alkylating agent, carboplatin works the same way cisplatin does; it directly damages DNA to stop the growth of cancer cells. This drug is usually given intravenously and is used to treat cancers of the neck, lungs, ovaries and head.
Its most common side effects include decreased blood cell count, confusion, reversible hair loss and digestive side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. These are typically short-term side effects and will occur within the first 24 to 72 hours, according to Caring4cancer.com.
