Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Depending on the type of leukemia, the patient may take one drug or a combination of two or more drugs.
Some oral anticancer drugs can be taken; however, most of these drugs are given intravenously; this is called intravenous injection.
Anti-cancer drugs enter the bloodstream and attack leukemia cells in most parts of the body.
But drugs often do not reach the brain and spinal cord because they can not cross the protective barrier that filters the blood to the brain and spinal cord. This barrier is called the bloody brain barrier.
Doctors use chemical therapy within the sac (the sac is the space or vacuum under the macular or cerebrospinal membrane) to reach the central nervous system's leukemia cells, where anti-cancer drugs inject directly into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Chemotherapy can be given intra-injections at the bottom of the spine. It can also be given by a special instrument placed under the skin of the head, and provided with a catheter up to the cerebrospinal fluid in the center of the brain.
Chemotherapy is given in the form of strokes: a treatment session followed by a recuperation period, another session, and so on.
Chemotherapy can be given at the hospital, at the doctor's office or at home; this concerns the type of medication used and the general health condition of the patient.
Most side effects disappear gradually during recuperation between chemotherapy sessions or after stopping treatment.
Some cancer drugs can affect the fertility of the patient. Women's menstrual cycle may be disturbed or stopped; women may experience symptoms of menopause, such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness.
Since some drugs can cause birth defects, women of gestational age and sexually active women should use birth control pills.
The sperm production can stop in men. Since these changes can be permanent, the man may prefer to freeze some of his sperm and store a quantity of it.
Some oral anticancer drugs can be taken; however, most of these drugs are given intravenously; this is called intravenous injection.
Anti-cancer drugs enter the bloodstream and attack leukemia cells in most parts of the body.
But drugs often do not reach the brain and spinal cord because they can not cross the protective barrier that filters the blood to the brain and spinal cord. This barrier is called the bloody brain barrier.
Doctors use chemical therapy within the sac (the sac is the space or vacuum under the macular or cerebrospinal membrane) to reach the central nervous system's leukemia cells, where anti-cancer drugs inject directly into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Chemotherapy can be given intra-injections at the bottom of the spine. It can also be given by a special instrument placed under the skin of the head, and provided with a catheter up to the cerebrospinal fluid in the center of the brain.
Chemotherapy is given in the form of strokes: a treatment session followed by a recuperation period, another session, and so on.
Chemotherapy can be given at the hospital, at the doctor's office or at home; this concerns the type of medication used and the general health condition of the patient.
Most side effects disappear gradually during recuperation between chemotherapy sessions or after stopping treatment.
Some cancer drugs can affect the fertility of the patient. Women's menstrual cycle may be disturbed or stopped; women may experience symptoms of menopause, such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness.
Since some drugs can cause birth defects, women of gestational age and sexually active women should use birth control pills.
The sperm production can stop in men. Since these changes can be permanent, the man may prefer to freeze some of his sperm and store a quantity of it.
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