What is the Red Devil chemo?

The chemotherapy (“chemo”) drug “The Red Devil” is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). It is an intravenous cancer medicine with a clear, bright red color, which is how it got its nickname.

What is Red Devil chemo side effects?

This agent has earned its infamous nickname, the red devil, based on its bright red (Kool-Aid red) color, vesicant properties, and side-effect profile, including hair loss, myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, and rare but serious cardiotoxicity.

What are the long term effects of Red Devil chemo?

Long-term gastrointestinal side effects that have been reported with Adriamycin include: Gastric ulcers or erosions. Hyperpigmentation of the tongue or oral mucosa (rare) Ulceration and necrosis of the colon, especially the cecum (rare).

Why is chemo called Red Devil?

That and its red hue has given it the unflattering nickname the “Red Devil.” It's known to punish the cardiac system while it treats cancer, a dangerous side effect. But research suggests that there may be a way to reduce the drug's toxicity without blunting its ability to attack tumors.

How does Red Devil Chemo make you feel?

My oncologist and chemotherapy nurse had warned me of the side effects from the two drugs: nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, low white or red blood cell counts, a metallic taste in my mouth, fatigue and the one very visible sign of chemotherapy: complete hair loss.

CHEMO BRAIN: BATTLING THE RED DEVIL

What is the harshest chemotherapy?

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) is one of the most powerful chemotherapy drugs ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Unfortunately, the drug can also damage heart cells, so a patient can't take it indefinitely.

Which is the most serious side effect of doxorubicin >?

This medicine may cause irreversible heart muscle damage, leading to heart failure. This is more likely to occur if you have other heart problems, have had or currently receiving radiation therapy to your chest, or have received other cancer medicines.

Which is worse Adriamycin or Taxol?

HAMBURG-In previously un-treated women with advanced breast cancer, doxorubicin (Adriamycin) yields a higher response rate and longer progression-free survival than does paclitaxel (Taxol), according to the results of a randomized crossover trial conducted by the EORTC and presented at the Ninth European Cancer ...

How do you feel after doxorubicin?

What cancers does doxorubicin treat?

Do you lose your hair with doxorubicin?

Your hair may become thin, brittle, or may fall out. This typically begins two to three weeks after treatment starts. This hair loss can be all body hair, including pubic, underarm, legs/arms, eyelashes, and nose hairs.

How many times can you take Red Devil chemo?

Patients typically receive injections every 21 to 28 days on a specific cycle, but your dose schedule may be different. You may NOT be able to use doxorubicin if you have severe heart disease or severe liver disease.

How long does doxorubicin take to work?

Liposomal doxorubicin is a light red liquid that you have through a drip (infusion) into your bloodstream. It usually takes between 30 to 90 minutes each time you have it.

How many years does chemo take off your life?

During the 3 decades, the proportion of survivors treated with chemotherapy alone increased from 18% in 1970-1979 to 54% in 1990-1999, and the life expectancy gap in this chemotherapy-alone group decreased from 11.0 years (95% UI, 9.0-13.1 years) to 6.0 years (95% UI, 4.5-7.6 years).

Does chemo get worse with each treatment?

The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.

How many days does it take for chemo to leave your body?

It generally takes about 48 to 72 hours for your body to break down and/or get rid of most chemo drugs. But it's important to know that each chemo drug is excreted or passed through the body a bit differently.

Is doxorubicin the strongest chemo?

Official answer. Doxorubicin is considered one of the strongest chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers, not just breast cancer.

How many cycles of doxorubicin can you have?

Each cycle of treatment lasts 21 days (3 weeks). You usually have up to 6 cycles in total.

Does doxorubicin cause weight gain?

Your doctor may give you a medicine to help prevent this. Call your doctor right away if you have a decrease or change in urine amount, joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, lower back, side, or stomach pain, a rapid weight gain, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

How many rounds of chemo is normal?

During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.

Is AC harder than Taxol?

For me - A/C was so much easier than Taxol. Actually other than loosing hair on head, loosing taste and appetite, A/C wasn't that bad at all. I was a bit tired 2 days after infusion for 2 days but could lay down and rest and feel better - then was basically back to doing everything 'normally'.

When do chemo side effects peak?

If you develop side effects, they can happen any time during, immediately after or a few days or weeks after chemotherapy. Sometimes late side effects develop months or years after chemotherapy. Most side effects go away on their own or can be treated, but some side effects may last a long time or become permanent.

What does doxorubicin do to the body?

Doxorubicin is a type of chemotherapy drug called an anthracycline. It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells by blocking an enzyme called topo isomerase 2. Cancer cells need this enzyme to divide and grow. You might have doxorubicin in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.

Does doxorubicin always damage the heart?

It is well recognized that doxorubicin may cause damage to the heart in some individuals. While other anthracyclines (like epirubicin and mitoxantrone) may also cause heart damage, the chances are more common with doxorubicin. Doxorubicin causes both early and late heart damage (also called cardiotoxicity).

What does doxorubicin do to the heart?

The increased risk of cardiac dysfunction from doxorubicin can manifest acutely during treatment or chronically weeks to years after treatment has ceased. Cardiac dysfunction may present across a board spectrum of symptoms that may range from arrhythmias to overt heart failure.