Chemotherapy for Glioma: What to Expect
- A chemotherapy drug called temozolomide is often used to treat gliomas.
- The most common side effects associated with this treatment include nausea, constipation, fatigue, and a drop in blood counts.
- There are medications and interventions your doctor can offer to help mitigate these side effects, so it’s important to keep your medical team in the loop about any new symptoms you are feeling.
- “It’s a discussion with the patient, sometimes trial and error, to see what works,” Dr. Howard Colman, a neuro-oncologist at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, tells SurvivorNet.
Oftentimes, potential side effects are a patient’s biggest concern before they begin chemotherapy. But there are treatments and interventions available to help ease these side effects, so it’s important to keep your medical team in the loop about any new symptoms you are feeling.
Read MoreTemozolomide for Glioma Treatment
“Temozolomide is the most common chemotherapy we use for higher-grade gliomas,” Dr. Colman says. A combination known as procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (or the PCV regimen) may also be used in oligodendrogliomas with the 1p/19q co-deletion, which predicts better responses to this regimen.When it comes to temozolomide, the most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Hematologic toxicities
“In terms of managing side effects, the standard approach is to use an anti-nausea drug, often Zofran, before the patient takes the chemotherapy every night — and then, as needed,” Dr. Colman explains.
Other interventions to manage side effects might include medication to help with constipation, stimulants to help with fatigue, and adjusting or stopping treatment if blood counts drop too low.
“A very important part of the process is the follow-up and the feedback,” Dr. Colman says.
“Those things [interventions] don’t work equally well for all people, so if the initial recommendations are not working and they’re just having more nausea or constipation, then they follow up with our team and we make additional recommendations. There’s a whole series of additional drugs we use as add-ons.”
Treatment Cycles and Recovery
Chemotherapy is usually administered in cycles, alternating between treatment sessions and recovery periods. During these breaks, patients’ bodies have time to rest and rebuild healthy cells affected by the therapy.
This interval approach also helps healthcare providers monitor how well each patient is tolerating the medication and adjust dosages if needed. Most people find that having a structured schedule allows them to plan day-to-day activities around their treatment and rest times.
It is worth noting that not everyone reacts to treatment the same way. The stress of a brain tumor diagnosis, combined with the impact of chemotherapy, can sometimes trigger shifts in mood or behavior.
While some individuals report feeling fatigued or less enthusiastic during and immediately after therapy, others may notice symptoms of depression or mood swings. However, many patients find that their emotional well-being improves over time, especially as they adapt to life after treatment.
Can Chemotherapy Affect My Memory?
A phenomenon known as “chemo fog” or “chemo brain” is commonly reported by patients undergoing cancer treatment, including those with brain tumors. This can manifest as forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, or trouble finding the right words. While not everyone experiences these issues, the combination of chemotherapy, potential radiation, and the general stresses of a brain tumor diagnosis can increase the likelihood of cognitive changes.
Fortunately, in many cases, patients see gradual improvement in memory and concentration after finishing therapy, especially once they resume everyday activities and routines.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- How will you determine which chemotherapy drugs and dose are right for me?
- What sort of side effects should I look for?
- What if I need to stop chemotherapy treatment?
- Is there anything I can do to help or ease side effects?
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