Drug Administration protocols

Cycles

Chemotherapy regimens are usually given in cycles of treatment with periods of rest between them. A cycle can last between 3 to 6 months depending on the combination of drugs and the cancer stage, with the medication given at 2-3 weeks intervals.

The resting period between cycles allows the body to recover from the toxicity of the drugs. Although these are periods without drugs, the disease should not progress since:

•   The chemicals given are partially, accumulating in the body during the treatment and taking some time to be eliminated. This is also the reason why some side effects can last months after the end of the treatment.;

•    Malignant cells not yet killed recover much more slowly than normal cells

If there are any signs that the disease is becoming worse during a treatment pause, your oncologist could reassess the treatment program.

Monitoring

Treatment efficacy is monitored by regular exams, which can include specific blood tests, imaging exams such as computerized axial tomography scan (CAT-scan), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound or scintigraphy.

Depending on the tumor response and treatment toxicity, the drugs combination can be adjusted or alternated.