What is a high dose chemotherapy?
High dose chemotherapy is the type of treatment used for cancer. Chemotherapy, or chemo, is a treatment that uses specific medicines that are formulated to kill cells. Cancer cells are divided, mutated and multiplying faster than normal cells and chemo medicines are targeted. Low doses of drugs are usually used for treatment, but there are times that may require high doses of chemo. Rare types of cancer, non -responding cancer and relapses are common events where a higher chemical dose is required.
Cancer occurs when cells in the body become abnormal, grow too fast and cause other normal cells to become unusual. Standard chemotherapy uses low amounts of toxic chemicals to kill these abnormal cells and prevent them from growing control and causing damage or tumors. While most cancer responds to chemical treatment at low doses, some rare types do not respond to low -dose chemolese procedures. Rare cancer that usually requiresThey give and respond to a high dose cheatpia include testicular cancer and bone cancer type called osteosarcoma. Some rare forms of brain cancer, such as the primary lymphoma of the central nervous system, can also be treated with high -dose chemical procedures.
Another case where high dose chemotherapy may be required is unattractive cancer. In some cases, cancer may be treated with low dose chemo, but does not respond or return after successful treatment. These cancer can be more stubborn and aggressive. Higher phases of cancer also make it difficult to treat. All these instances may require a higher chemical dose during treatment.
High -dose chemotherapy can cause considerable bone marrow damage. Red blood cells and some immune cells are made in the bone marrow. With a low, standard dose of chemo, can repair bone marrow and replace damaged parts, but with higher doseEven help for this process is necessary. This reason, a high dose chemo is often used to save stem cells. Stem cells are used to help the patient's body replace damaged bone marrow. These stem cells can either be harvested from the patient before starting treatment or from the corresponding donor.
When the patient's own stem cells are used, they can be harvested from the patient in two ways. Circulating stem cells can be collected from the blood before administration of a high dose of chemotherapy. Bone marrow collection can also be made for collecting stem cells and a small amount of bone marrow.
Donor stem cells are used in cases where cancer cells are present in the bone marrow or if previous transplantation with patient stem cells failed. Donors can be compared using blood tests. The stem cells are harvested from the donor and are introduced into the patient's blood supply through an intravenous line. All of them must be completed before transplantationTreatment of high dose chemotherapy.