Rice Cancer Treatment

RICE is an acronym for four chemotherapy drugs: rituximab, ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide. Doctors recommend RICE if your lymphoma returns after previous treatment.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells, which protect your body from infections.

Administration

There are two ways to administer RICE: through a vein in your arm, or through a vein in your chest. The tubes in your arm are removed after each treatment, but a tube placed in your chest will remain there until the end of your last treatment.

Function

Rituximab helps your body's defenses identify cancer cells. Ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide interfere with a cancer cell's DNA, stopping its growth and division.

Time Frame

You receive RICE treatment in 3 cycles, and each cycle lasts 3 weeks. Total treatment time, called a course, generally falls between 3 and 6 months.

Effects

Common side effects from RICE include fatigue, infections, bruising, nausea, vomiting, hair loss and skin rashes. In rare cases, RICE causes new cancers to form 5 to 8 years after treatment.

Considerations

A stem cell transplant, which helps your bone marrow recover from the drugs, usually accompanies RICE. Ask your doctor about the procedure.

References

• CancerHelp.org.uk: RICE
• Lymphoma Research Foundation: About Lymphoma
• Macmillan Cancer Support: ICE and R-ICE Chemotherapy

Resources

• American Cancer Society: Chemo