Breast Cancer Chemotherapy | Rice Chemotherapy-A Brief Overview

A specific type of chemotherapy where a specific type of drugs is used to get rid of lymphoma is called Rice Chemotherapy. Different drugs are used in rice chemotherapy that can effectively reduce the anguish of a cancer patient and help him to fight against cancer. Carboplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide are the three major drugs that are used in this specific type of chemotherapy. But this therapy also incorporates some antibody drugs for example rituximab for enhancing the effectiveness of this therapy on cancer patients.

The antibody drugs Rituximab used in Rice chemotherapy can destroy the cancer cells of a patient with utmost accuracy and try hard to ensure that normal cells are not affected. They have been formulated in a different way so that they can distinguish between a normal cell and a cancer cell by analyzing certain proteins that can only be traced on the surface of cancer cells. After differentiating a cancer cell from the rest of the other cell, this anti body locks this cell and begins to galvanize the immunity system of body to destroy those cancer cells. This method is really unique and effective at the same time.

Rice chemotherapy treatment can be taken in a hospital and it doesn’t require a long time. Blood test is required before rice chemotherapy to determine the condition of kidney and health. This treatment is not painful at all.

Rice chemotherapy is obvious for another reason. The level of drugs can be reduced if a patient can feel any kind reaction during time of treatment.. If a patient feels inflammation in vein or bleeding, by applying mesna along with other drugs can be proved immensely helpful in reducing the severeness of these kinds of side effects. This thing is also available in tablet.

Rice chemotherapy is also subjected to side effects. There are dangerous side effects that have to be heeded with care. Vomiting and nausea are common side effect of almost every type of chemotherapy and these are also prevalent in this chemotherapy treatment. Anti-sickness drugs are given to eradicate these side effects. As this therapy reduces the production of white blood cells, it is indirectly hitting the immunity system of a patient. But the level of white blood cells becomes normal automatically within fifteen days. Loss of appetite, irritation, bleeding and anemia are some other common type of side effects of this chemotherapy.

ICE is used for some types of high grade lymphoma. Rituximab is often given with this combination and then it is called RICE. ICE is a combination of the chemotherapy drugs ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide. These are given by drip into a vein. Rituximab, is also given by drip. A stay in hospital for a few days is required to have this treatment. Usually three cycles are given. ICE and RICE are very effective form of chemotherapy treatments. As they can easily identify normal cells and affected cells, it aims to kill only cancer affected cells. Of course, all chemotherapy treatments are only after checking the physical condition of the patient.