Chemotherapy

Know about AC chemotherapy

The chemotherapy treatment used for treating breast cancer is known as AC chemotherapy. A person having any questions regarding the treatment can always get information about the treatment either from his doctor or nurse present in the hospital. Besides, the nurses providing cancer support service can also provide information about the treatment to the patients.

Drugs used for AC chemotherapy
The drugs that are used in AC chemotherapy treatment include doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. The doxorubicin drug is an injection and is usually given to the patient through the drip. The cyclophosphamide is also given in the form of injection through a drip.

How AC chemotherapy treatment is given
The patient taking the AC chemotherapy treatment can be treated as a day patient. However, before starting the treatment, certain blood tests have to be done. The blood tests can be done on the day of the treatment or few days prior to the treatment. If the results of the blood tests turn out to be normal, then the doctors will conduct the AC chemotherapy treatment. In order to start the treatment, the nurse will put a cannula, a flexible and thin tube into the vein in the arm or hand of the patient. Some patients even take their chemotherapy treatment through a thin tube made of plastic, which is inserted either into the vein around the collarbone or below the skin.

The AC chemotherapy drugs are given to the patient as an injection through a salt water drip into the cannula. Both doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide drugs are given in the same way. The entire process generally takes about an hour’s time. The doctors often provide the patient with anti-sickness drugs. These drugs help in preventing the side effects that may occur because of the treatment. The patient should consume these anti-sickness drugs, as directed by the doctor, even if the side effects do not occur.

How frequently is the AC chemotherapy treatment given to a patient?
The doctor fixes a proper regime for the AC chemotherapy treatment for his patient. The doctor may on the first day of chemotherapy, give a patient doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. After this there will be a period of rest for the patient. The patient will not be given any treatment of chemotherapy for next 3 weeks. This is considered to be the cycle of the treatment. After the rest period is over, the same drugs will be given to the patient, which will be again followed with a rest period. This is the second cycle of the treatment. A patient is usually given 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy treatment. The entire course of the treatment may be conducted for 3-4 months.

What are the possible side effects of AC chemotherapy treatment?
A patient undergoing AC chemotherapy treatment can face problems like high temperature. Another side effect of this treatment is unexplained bruising or bleeding. Another side effect of AC chemotherapy is anemia. This treatment also causes vomiting and nausea in many people. Some of the other side effects include fatigue, hair loss, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, changes in nails and skin, etc.