Alimta Chemotherapy

The incorporation of chemotherapy into the treatment of advanced non small cell lung cancer has become more frequent during the last decade. The primary reason for this has been the demonstration of efficacy of chemotherapeutics in prolonging survival and improvement in quality of life of patients treated with chemotherapy versus other treatment options. In some cases chemotherapy is unnecessary and useless. Alimta for chemotherapy is used for treatment of non small cell lung cancer which is available with most Canadian pharmacy. The drug is a popular brand of a chemotherapy drug call Pemetrexed.

As we know, treatment with drugs to kill cancer cells is called chemotherapy. Most anti cancer drugs are injected into the vein or muscle and some are consumed orally. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment which makes the drug flow through the bloodstream to nearly every part of the body. Chemotherapy is generally given in cycles which mean it is a treatment period followed by recovery period followed by another treatment period and so on. Chemotherapy is usually given to patient as an outpatient at the hospital, at the doctor’s clinic or at home.

Alimta is a drug which comes as an injection and is only available on prescription and could be bought in most of the Canadian pharmacies. Alimta is usually given with Cisplatin which helps kill the cancer affected cells in the body and reduce the risk of more damage to the body due to cancer cells. The drug comes in different dosages depending of the damage the cancer cells have done to the body. Any type of chemotherapy will have certain side effects and the same happens in case of Almita chemotherapy. Certain precautions should be taken in order to minimize these reactions and ensure on gets the best possible treatments. Sometimes chemotherapy can reduce blood count and if this happens one may suffer from anemia or immunity of the body might decrease. Hair loss is also one of the common side effects of chemotherapy. Alimta could also cause some skin rashes or other similar problems; however this can be reduced by taking corticosteroid after consulting to the doctor. This chemotherapy drug could also interact with other medicines and hence one needs to tell their doctors as they may have to discontinue them to avoid any dire side effects. 

 

Most side effects of chemotherapy with Alimta can be reduced by taking Vitamin B12 which helps increase of foliates.