Read article The drugs used for nasal and sinus cancer
This page is about the chemotherapy drugs used to treat nasal and paranasal sinus cancer, and how you might have them. There is information on
The drugs used for nasal and sinus cancer
It is most common to have two or more chemotherapy drugs together to treat cancer. You may hear this called combination chemotherapy. Many types of head and neck cancers can be treated with these common chemotherapy drugs
- Cisplatin
- 5 fluorouracil (5-FU)
Other drugs used less often include carboplatin, docetaxel (Taxotere), paclitaxel (Taxol) and gemcitabine (Gemzar).
You have these drugs through a drip into your arm, usually once every 3 or 4 weeks. Each 3 or 4 week period is known as one cycle of treatment. You will probably have 3 or 4 cycles to begin with. If your treatment is working and you are not having too many side effects you will probably go on to have up to 6 cycles. So the complete chemotherapy course can take 6 months or more. Your own doctor will decide the exact number of treatments you have.
If you are having chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the same time (known as chemoradiation treatment), you are most likely to have the chemotherapy drug cisplatin on its own.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the treating nasal cancer section.
It is most common to have two or more chemotherapy drugs together to treat cancer. You may hear this called combination chemotherapy. Using two or more drugs together is often more effective than using one drug. Many types of head and neck cancers can be treated with these common chemotherapy drugs
Other drugs used less often include
These links will take you to information about the specific side effects of each drug.
You usually have chemotherapy as cycles of treatment. You have these drugs through a drip (intravenous infusion) into your arm, usually once every 3 or 4 weeks. Each 3 or 4 week period is known as one cycle of treatment. You will probably have between 3 and 4 cycles to begin with. If your treatment is working and you are not having too many side effects you will probably go on to have up to 6 cycles. So the complete chemotherapy course can take 6 months or more. Your own doctor will decide the exact number of treatments you have.
If you are having chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the same time (known as chemoradiation treatment), you are most likely to have the chemotherapy drug cisplatin on its own.
There is information about the side effects of chemoradiation in this section of CancerHelp UK.
- Share this: Tweet
-
-
- Print this page
-
Email this page
Increase text size
Decrease text size
Print page
Print basket
Save pages here and print in one go
Nurse helpline
Questions about cancer? Call freephone
0808 800 4040
or email us
