Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a medical treatment used to eradicate various cancers. In chemotherapy treatment, various drugs or chemicals are used which either slows down or stops growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs are most effective in killing cells which divides rapidly. ARC chemotherapy is chemotherapy treatment used to destroy various cancers.

ARC chemotherapy is one of the old chemotherapy treatments and it has been around for many years. In ARC chemotherapy, Ara-c chemotherapy drug is used to treat cancer. Ara-c is a clear, colorless liquid. ARC chemotherapy is most commonly used for treating leukemia cancers which includes acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia. It is also used to treat acute lymphoid leukemia, lymphomas.

Ara-c is an anti-cancer or cytotoxic chemotherapy drug. Ara-c belongs to the category of chemotherapy called antimetabolites. Antimetabolites are specific to cell cycle. They attack the cells during specific phases in cell cycle. Antimetabolites are very similar to normal substances within the cell.

ARC chemotherapy treatment is applied in cycles which can be given to you as a day patient. Method of administration and schedule of treatment largely depend on type and extent of cancer. Your doctor and medical team make this decision. Often, ARC chemotherapy is applied on daily basis for 5 to 7 days. Chemotherapy drug is applied mostly intravenously. It can also be applied intramuscularly. In patients with leukemia and lymphomas, chemotherapy drug is administered directly into spinal fluid. It can also be injected in the layer of tissue between the skin and muscle.

ARC chemotherapy usually stops growth of fast growing cancerous cells. However, chemotherapy drugs also damage some normal body cells which cause some unpleasant side effects. However each patient reacts differently to chemotherapy treatment. Some patients experience few side effects, while others may have more.

Also the degree and severity of the side effects associated with chemotherapy treatment depends on dose and schedule of the administration of ARC chemotherapy.

Some of the common and important side effects associated with ARC chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, anemia, diarrhea, low appetite, low resistance to infection, low white blood cell count, low platelet count, bleeding, anemia, sickness, hair loss, memory loss and sore mouth. These side effects are temporary and will disappear once the treatment is over. However, do not ignore any of the side effects and contact your doctor immediately. When taken in high dose, ARC chemotherapy can damage brain which causes imbalance and inability to perform highly coordinated movements.