Hodgkin's Disease - Radiation Treatments

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs are called cytotoxic (“toxic to cells”) medications. Chemotherapy is referred to as body-wide, or systemic, therapy because the drugs affect cells throughout the body.

Chemotherapy drugs may be taken by mouth as pills or given by injection or infusion. Treatment may be administered at a medical center, doctor's office, or even a patient's home. Some patients receiving chemotherapy may need to remain in the hospital for several days so the effects of the drug can be monitored.

Patients typically receive 4 - 8 cycles of chemotherapy, depending on the stage. A cycle is usually 28 days and consists of several doses of drug administration followed by a period of rest.

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Specific Drugs and Drug Combinations Used in Hodgkin's Disease

The standard chemotherapy regimens for Hodgkin’s disease are ABVD and Stanford V.

ABVD consists of a 4-drug combination:

• Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
• Bleomycin
• Vinblastine
• Dacarbazine

Stanford V consists of a 7-drug combination:

• Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
• Mechlorethamine (nitrogen mustard)
• Vincristine
• Vinblastine
• Bleomycin
• Etoposide
• Prednisone

BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) is a chemotherapy regimen reserved for high-risk patients. This regimen is proving to be extremely effective, particularly in advanced stages, with studies reporting remission rates of over 95% in patients with advanced Hodgkin's. However, this regimen also increases the risk for developing secondary cancers such as leukemia. Patients who are treated with BEACOPP should receive long-term follow-up care to monitor for side effects from this therapy.

Side Effects and Complications

Side effects and complications of any chemotherapeutic regimen are common, are more severe with higher doses, and increase over the course of treatment. Some studies suggest that toxicities can be reduced by administering the drugs for shorter duration without loss of cancer-killing effects.

Common Side Effects. Common side effects of chemotherapy include: