• Special formulation of Taxol that does not require premedication to prevent allergic reactions. Nausea, hair loss, bone marrow suppression, numbness and tingling in hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy).
• Nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, soreness at injection site, harmless red colored urine, hair loss (could be severe), damage to heart may occur with very high doses but is prevented if the dose is less than maximum.
• Nausea, bone marrow suppression, hair loss (mild), rash, mouth soreness ñ rash is prevented by prednisone. Must take oral folic acid and injected B12 in order to prevent side effects.
• Bone marrow suppression (may be delayed 4-6 weeks).
• Nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, mouth soreness and diarrhea, eye irritation and difficulty with balance can develop when high doses are used in the hospital.
• Not a chemotherapy drug - used to prevent bone fractures - fever, chills, allergic reactions, possible damage to the kidneys (kidney function will be monitored and usually improves if the drug is held and restarted).
• Nausea, headache, hot flushes, muscle aches and pains, possible decrease in bone density.
• Nausea, headache, hot flashes, muscle aches and pains, possible decrease in bone density.
• Targeted biologic therapy that prevents tumor cell blood vessel growth (angiogenesis). High blood pressure, protein in the urine, blood clots, bowel perforation (very rare complication).
• Bone marrow suppression (may be delayed 4-6 weeks), nausea and vomiting, burning sensation along the vein due to alcohol solution which drug is mixed with, smell of alcohol on breath occasionally noted.
• Allergic reaction occasionally seen (test dose given to check), fever, brownish discoloration of the skin or occasionally rash, damage to lungs may occur with high doses (breathing tests are often performed to carefully monitor effects on the lungs).
• Diarrhea (may be severe and develop in the first 24 hours after treatment or develop several days after treatment). You will be given instructions for the treatment of the diarrhea. Other side effects include, hair loss, nausea, bone marrow suppression, fatigue.
• Nausea (usually mild), bone marrow suppression (particularly low platelets), high frequency hearing difficulty, kidney damage (rare).
• Nausea, diarrhea, hot flashes.
• Nausea, vomiting, bone marrow suppression (often delayed), hair loss, kidney or lung damage.
• Bone marrow suppression.
• Nausea and vomiting, hair loss, numbness and tingling or weakness of hands and feet, high frequency hearing loss, kidney damage (prevented if given large amounts of IV fluids), bone marrow suppression.
• Nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, hair loss, bladder irritation (burning, frequency, bloody urine - prevented if increased fluid intake to 1-2 quarts of fluid a day).
• Nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, hair loss, damage to the heart which is prevented if less than maximal dose is used.
• Mild nausea, hair loss, bone marrow suppression, redness and burning of the hands and feet.
• Nausea and vomiting (usually within 1-4 hours following treatment), bone marrow suppression, flu-like symptoms.
• Mild nausea, breast tenderness or enlargement, diarrhea, leg swelling - should take pills on an empty stomach for better absorption of drug and avoid taking any milk products with the pills.
• Targeted biologic therapy that interferes with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Rash, diarrhea.
• Not a chemotherapy or targeted biologic therapy. Used to lower iron stores in patients who have received multiple transfusions ñrash, gastrointestinal disorders, abnormal liver or kidney tests, fever. Pills should be dissolved in water or juice and taken on an empty stomach.
• Mild nausea, diarrhea, headache, hot flashes, pain at the injection site.
• Mild nausea, diarrhea, mouth soreness, bone marrow suppression, skin discoloration, skin redness and rash of the hands and feet can be seen with prolonged infusions of 5-FU.
• Nausea, hot flashes, diarrhea, muscle aches and pains, possible decrease in bone density.
• Bone marrow suppression, nausea, diarrhea, mouth soreness, cough or breathing problems, confusion, numbness in fingers and toes, rash.
• Nausea, diarrhea, hot flashes, sweating, dizziness, breast tenderness.
• Not a chemotherapy drug - used to stimulate white cell production. Muscle aches, bone pain, skin rash.
• Nausea, diarrhea, mouth soreness, bone marrow suppression, fever, skin rash, flu like symptoms, mild hair loss.
• Nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, bone marrow suppression, fluid retention.
• Increase in facial hair, weight gain, deepening of voice, menstrual irregularity.
• Fever, chills, rash headache, mild bone marrow suppression, diarrhea, effects on heart function can be seen if Herceptin is given with chemotherapy drugs which effect the heart (adriamycin).
• Bone marrow suppression, numbness in fingers and toes, nausea, diarrhea, rash, hair loss.
• Bone marrow suppression (often severe), nausea, hair loss, fatigue, mouth sores, diarrhea.
• Bone marrow suppression which requires frequent blood tests every 2-3 weeks.
• Bone marrow suppression, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, mouth soreness, diarrhea, irritation or ulceration of the skin if the drug leaks out of the vein, heart damage in high doses.
• Nausea, vomiting, bone marrow suppression, bladder irritation with occasional bloody urine which is prevented with the use of IV fluids and the drug mesna, occasional episodes of confusion and lethargy.
• Targeted biologic therapy. Skin rash (often improves while continuing the drug), diarrhea.
• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dry skin, itching, skin fragility, sun photosensitivity, conjunctivitis, dry eyes, night blindness, bone pain, muscle pains, elevated triglyceride.
• Fatigue, fever, muscle aches and pains, occasionally bone marrow suppression, liver disease and neurologic problems (with high dose interferon).
• Nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, low blood pressure, breathing problems, increased leakage of fluids into the tissues (capillary leak syndrome), weight gain, confusion, bone marrow suppression.
• Increases the effectiveness of 5FU but may also increase incidence of mouth soreness, diarrhea, skin irritation and bone marrow suppression.
• Nausea, hot flashes, impotence, breast swelling, blood clots in legs.
• Nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, bone marrow suppression, rash, muscle pains.
• Fluid retention, hot flashes, weight gain.
• Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, mouth soreness, bone marrow suppression, sensitivity to sunlight. If high doses are given, a special rescue medicine (leucovorin) must be taken as directed.
• Used to protect the bladder from irritation caused by ifosfamide or cytoxan.
• Nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression (may be prolonged - 4-6 weeks), hair loss, effects on kidneys and lungs are occasionally seen and rarely severe kidney damage develops.
• Nausea and vomiting, hair loss, bone marrow suppression.
• Nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, tissue damage if drug is injected outside a vein, hair loss.
• Nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, hair loss, numbness and tingling of hands, feet mouth lips and throat which is enhanced by exposure to cold - need to wear gloves in cold weather and avoid cold liquids for up to 72 hours after treatment.
• Water retention, stomach pains or heartburn, difficulty sleeping, increased anxiety, increase in blood sugar in susceptible patients, increased appetite with resultant weight gain. Some symptoms are prevented by taking the medicine with food or antacids.
• Bone marrow suppression, nausea and vomiting, flushing may occur if procarbazine is taken with alcohol and certain foods including hard cheeses.
• Rituxan is not a chemotherapy drug, but is an antibody treatment directed against a certain type of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma cells (B cells). Side effects include chills, fever and rarely wheezing or low blood pressure. Side effects can be prevented by slowing the rate of the intravenous infusion.
• Targeted biologic therapy - rash, diarrhea, hand foot syndrome, hair loss, itching, nausea, hair loss, high blood pressure.
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney damage, protein in the urine, bone marrow suppression, high blood sugar.
• Targeted biologic therapy ñ fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, rash, mouth sores, high blood pressure ñ rarely bleeding, pancreatitis.
• Tamoxifen may cause hot flashes, mild nausea (vomiting is rare), vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge and dryness, menstrual irregularities and skin rash. Other side effects rarely seen, are an increase in calcium in the body; swelling in the extremities, depression, dizziness, headache, leg cramps, genital itching, lightheadedness, hair thinning or partial hair loss, confusion and fatigue. The drug may transiently decrease the blood cells produced in the bone marrow. A mild decrease in the white cells and platelets return to normal even if the drug is continued. An increased risk of cataracts was noted in rats, but has not been reported in humans, although vision or eye effects have been reported in a few patients. Tamoxifen should not be taken during pregnancy due to potential hazard to the fetus.
• Tamoxifen may cause changes in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) including polyps, hyperplasia and endometriosis (endometrial cells outside the uterus). An early sign of these changes may be abnormal vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain. Patients should report such symptoms to their physician immediately and seek evaluation in a timely fashion. The level of increased risk of uterine cancer associated with tamoxifen is still uncertain. After an average of 10 years of follow-up, the annual risk observed in a large-scale trial of breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen is about 2 per 1000 women. This level of risk is approximately three times greater than that of a similar group of women in the general population. In view of this risk, it is currently recommended that all patients receiving tamoxifen have a gynecologic examination before starting treatment and at least yearly thereafter. Of course, if you have had a total hysterectomy, there is no risk of getting uterine cancer. The risk of uterine cancer has not been seen is premenopausal women. Data from one large U.S. study have not shown an increase in other cancers in women taking tamoxifen, but there have been a few reports of liver cancer that have occurred in women taking tamoxifen and tamoxifen can cause liver cancer in rats. Women on tamoxifen have an increased risk for developing phlebitis and blood clots. Patients with a pre-existing history of such problems should discuss the indication for tamoxifen treatment carefully with their physician.
• Tamoxifen has been shown to decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence after appropriate surgery.
• Targeted biologic therapy that inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Rash, diarrhea.
• Bone marrow suppression, nausea, diarrhea, mouth soreness, hair loss, fatigue, slow heart rate, numbness in fingers and toes, allergic reactions (often prevented by the use of medication).
• Allergic reactions and fluid retention (often prevented by the use of decadron 1 day prior and 4 days after treatment), nausea, hair loss, bone marrow suppression (may be severe), fatigue, muscle weakness or numbness and tingling of the hands and feet.
• Nausea, headache, bone marrow suppression, fatigue.
• Drowsiness, rash, constipation, numbness and tingling of hands and feet, severe birth defects in pregnant women (you will need to fill out a separate consent form and complete telephone surveys in order to continue your therapy).
• Bone marrow suppression.
• Increased white blood cell count, anemia, dry skin, itching. In approximately 10% of patients a syndrome known as "retinoic acid syndrome" develops. The syndrome includes high fever, problems breathing, lung infiltrates and an elevated white blood count. It usually responds to therapy with steroids.
• Nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, mild hair loss, abdominal pain, soreness at injection site, jaw pain.
• Nausea and vomiting, mild hair loss, numbness of fingers and toes, constipation, soreness at injection site.
• Bone marrow suppression, mild nausea, hair loss, irritation of the vein, constipation, mild numbness in the hands and feet, shortness of breath.
• Bone marrow suppression, nausea and vomiting usually mild, mouth sores.
• Nausea, diarrhea, mouth soreness, skin rash and severe redness of hands and feet.
• This drug is a radioactive antibody combined with Rituxan. Side effects are similar to Rituxan but also include bone marrow suppression which may be delayed up to 4-6 weeks.
• Not a chemotherapy drug - used to prevent bone fractures ñ fever, chills, allergic reactions, possible damage to kidneys - (kidney function will be monitored and the drug will be held if there are kidney abnormalities - the problem usually resolves and the drug can be restarted.