Chemotherapy Drugs and Delivery

There are many kinds of drugs that can be used. Chemo is most often given through an IV. It may be combined with other types of drugs designed to target the cancer cells or with corticosteroids to ease side effects. The care team will help to find the best combination for each person. The most common drugs are:

• Thalidomide
• Pomalidomide
• Lenalidomide
• Doxorubicin
• Cyclophosphamide
• Melphalan
• Vincristine

Side Effects and Management

Chemo is made to target cancer cells. However, it can also affect fast growing healthy cells. This can cause a range of health problems. The most common are:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Feeling tired or sleepy
• Hair loss
• Anemia
• Infections happen more often or last longer than normal
• Bleeding
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Tingling, numbness, pain, or weakness—peripheral neuropathy
• Fertility problems (rare)—If you plan on having children, talk to your doctor about preserving fertility before getting treated.

There are many ways to manage these problems. Medicines and lifestyle changes are the most common. In some cases, the cycles may be changed to lower the chances of serious problems. Talk to your care team as soon as these appear so they can be better controlled.