| Salvage Chemotherapy is drug treatment for the | | | | the veins either through injection or through drip. Dose |
| patients who are not responding or not tolerating other | | | | of Dexamethasone is also given along with this |
| available therapies for particular condition. Often | | | | therapy. Though salvage chemotherapy treatment is |
| prognosis of such patients is poor. With salvage | | | | effective, it makes patient very sick. |
| chemotherapy, one can have hope of curing the | | | | Before starting salvage chemotherapy treatment, one |
| cancer or at least extended and better quality life. | | | | should understand realistic objectives of salvage |
| Usually, salvage chemotherapy is applied after | | | | chemotherapy. This will lead to clear discussion among |
| recurrence of cancer. | | | | patient, his family and concerned physician. Risks |
| Chemotherapy treatment is evolved over the many | | | | associated with salvage chemotherapy including |
| decades. There are different types of chemotherapy | | | | treatment related mortality, toxicities of drug used |
| treatments such as adjuvant chemotherapy, | | | | should be weighed against known benefits of the |
| neoadjuvant chemotherapy, induction chemotherapy | | | | treatment. |
| and other are available to treat various cancers. With | | | | Though salvage chemotherapy seems to be a |
| the development of active and less toxic drugs and | | | | reasonable option for particular condition, treatment |
| improved methods to control the cancer, | | | | may not be appropriate for individual patient because |
| chemotherapy treatments are highly effective. | | | | of physical condition, goals of treatment, stage of |
| Even though chemotherapy treatments are effective | | | | cancer and patient?s preference. This factor must be |
| in producing some good clinical results, there are more | | | | considered before applying salvage chemotherapy. |
| chances of recurrence of cancer or incomplete | | | | Salvage chemotherapy associates with some side |
| responses. At this stage, salvage chemotherapy is | | | | effects. Most of the drugs used in the treatment are |
| introduced to control or manage various cancers. Like | | | | toxic that may lead to morbidity or mortality, including |
| other chemotherapy treatments, salvage | | | | febrile neutropenia, hemorrhage and impaired quality life. |
| chemotherapy should have different goals for different | | | | Other side effects include nausea, vomiting and hair fall. |
| cancerous situation. Various possible objectives need | | | | These side effects may occur months or years after |
| to be considered for each patient with specific cancer | | | | the administration of drugs. |
| while applying salvage chemotherapy. | | | | Though salvage chemotherapy has certain |
| In salvage chemotherapy, combination of Cisplatin and | | | | advantages, it is rarely performed by doctors. With |
| Cytarabine drug is administered. This combination drug | | | | salvage chemotherapy, life span of patient increases |
| is applied in high doses. Drugs are administered directy I | | | | by controlling growth of cancerous cell. |