Chemotherapy drugs are a specific class of medications called cytotoxic agents. They’re designed to kill cancer cells.
癌细胞的生长速度快于常规细胞。这些药物破坏了快速生长的细胞的生长，并使较慢的生长细胞通常不受伤害。
一些化学疗法（“化学疗法”）药物会损害细胞的遗传物质。其他人则干扰细胞分裂的方式。然而，有些还会影响体内其他快速增长的细胞，例如头发，血细胞和胃壁和嘴中的细胞。这说明了一些更常见的副作用。
并非所有接受乳腺癌诊断的人都需要化学疗法。癌症通常可以通过局部疗法（如手术和放射线）有效治疗，而无需全身治疗。
如果您已经诊断出细胞扩散到附近淋巴结的较大肿瘤，则可能需要几轮化学疗法。在这些情况下，化学疗法用作adjuvant therapy，或防止肿瘤切除后癌症恢复。
如果您已经诊断出阶段3癌和较大的肿瘤，您可以在手术前直接接受全身治疗。这称为新辅助治疗。
虽然化学疗法的想法可能令人生畏，但在如何方面取得了重大改善side effects被管理。接受化学疗法比以前的耐受性要容忍得多。
In cases of early stage cancer, an oncologist can make an informed decision about which drugs are best to use. Your age, the stage of the cancer, and any other health problems will all be taken into consideration before deciding on a chemo regimen.
这些药物通常在您的医生办公室或医院中注入静脉。提供化学疗法的位置通常称为输注中心。
您可能需要一个portimplanted if you have weak veins or are being given a certain type of drug. A port is a device that’s surgically placed in your chest that allows for easy needle access. The port can be removed when therapy is finished.
Typically, a person is given several drugs, often called a方案. Regimens are designed to attack the cancer at different stages of growth and in different ways. Your chemo drugs will be given on a regular schedule in doses called rounds.
根据
| Regimen name (drug initials) | 药物治疗的列表 |
| CAF（或FAC） | cyclophosphamide（Cytoxan），阿霉素（阿霉素）和5-FU |
| TAC | docetaxel (Taxotere), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) |
| 行为 | doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) followed by paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere) |
| FEC-T | 5-FU，表蛋白（Ellence）和环磷酰胺（Cytoxan），然后是多西他赛（Taxotere）或紫杉醇（紫杉醇） |
| TC | 多西他赛（cantotere）和环磷酰胺（Cytoxan） |
| TCH | docetaxel (Taxotere), carboplatin, and trastuzumab (Herceptin) forHER2/neu-positive tumors |
尽管随着时间的流逝，化学疗法的治疗大大改善，但治疗的副作用通常仍然很明显。
脱发
并非所有的化学药物原因脱发, but most of those mentioned above for early stage cancer will have that side effect.
如果您对自己的脱发有自我意识，则可以将假发，帽子和围巾纳入衣柜中。但是，这种副作用通常是暂时的。你的头发可能会开始grow back一旦您停止化学治疗。
Nausea
有些人可能担心nauseaas a chemo side effect. But this side effect is becoming less common as treatment methods progress.
您将获得类固醇和功能强大的抗Nausea药物，并输注您。您还将给您一些药物以在家中服用。许多人发现他们根本没有任何恶心，甚至可以在化学疗法上增加体重。
便秘
便秘可以是化学药物的副作用。确保合并纤维进入饮食，如果需要，请服用凳子软化剂。
Mouth sores
Mouth soresare an occasional side effect. If they appear, you can ask your oncologist for a prescription for “魔术漱口水，”有麻木剂。另外，您的感觉也可能tastewill change with some chemo drugs.
疲劳
The most common and persistent side effect of chemo is tiredness.
化学疗法会影响您的血液和骨髓。经常接受化学疗法的人会变成anemic, which causes疲劳. The effect on the blood also leaves you potentially susceptible to infection. It’s important to rest as much as possible.
Menstrual and fertility changes
If you have a menstrual cycle, you may find that it changes under chemotherapy. Some people start绝经完成化疗后。这更近于更年期的近距离，通常从51岁开始。
Periods can return after treatment is completed, but this often depends on your age and what kind of chemotherapy drugs were used. Typically, the younger you are, the greater the chance is that your period will return and you’ll produce fertile eggs.
如果您希望在化学疗法后怀孕，请与您的医生交谈。他们可以帮助设计一项影响您生育能力的治疗计划。
Neuropathy
While most of these side effects go away when you complete your chemo regimen, a few effects mayremain.
One of these is神经病. It occurs when the nerves of the hands and feet are damaged. People with this side effect feel tingling, stabbing sensations, and numbness in these areas.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis是另一个潜在的持久副作用。接受化疗的人应进行定期的骨密度检查。
Increased risk for leukemia
尽管很少见，但是接受化疗可能会使您面临更高的发展风险白血病down the line. If this is the case, it usually appears within 10 years of receiving chemotherapy.
对于大多数人来说，接受化学疗法的好处有助于治疗乳腺癌的患有白血病的少量风险。
Cognitive difficulties
Cognitive difficulties that occur with treatment can cause short-term memory loss and problems concentrating. This is known as “化学大脑。”
通常，这种症状在治疗结束后不久就会得到改善。但是，有时它可能会持续多年。
心脏虚弱
In some cases, chemo can leave you with a weaker heart.
Rarely, an allergic reaction to chemotherapy drugs can happen as well. Your medical team will monitor you closely for any signs that this may occur.
接受的前景ing chemotherapy can be scary, but most people are surprised to find that it’s quite manageable. Many can even keep up with their careers and other regular activities at a reduced level.
While undergoing chemo, it’s important to eat a营养饮食，尽可能休息，照顾好您精神健康.
发现您必须进行化学疗法可能很困难，但请记住不会永远持续.
It may help to talk to others who have gone through the same thing. Explore support groups online, and check out our list of年度最佳乳腺癌博客.