Germ Cell Cancer Chemotherapy Treatment
Germ cells are found in developing fetuses and eventually become the reproductive organs. Abnormal groupings of these cells cluster together forming tumors, some of which will become malignant or cancerous. Germ cell tumors are rare, 2.4 children in one million will develop germ cell tumors, and it makes up 4 percent of all pediatric cancer.
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Chemotherapy
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Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer that targets cancerous cells throughout the body, not just at the primary tumor location. Many germ cell tumors will develop at different points in the body, and some forms spread aggressively so chemotherapy is necessary, as radiation treats the cancer only at the primary site.
Delivery
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Systemic chemotherapy is given to a patient through an IV, sending the medication throughout the bloodstream. Most germ cell cancers are diagnosed in children and adolescents, so the timing of the chemotherapy treatments will be determined by how well the child tolerates the treatment, as well as the type of cancer it is and how aggressively it grows.
Common Medications
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Typical chemotherapy drugs used to treat germ cell cancer include bleomycin (Blenoxane), cisplatin (Platinol), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar), and etoposide (VePesid, Etopophos, Toposar).
Side Effects
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Chemotherapy has side effects such as fatigue, nausea and vomiting, infection, loss of appetite and diarrhea. The side effects for chemotherapy to treat germ cell cancer should go away when the treatment ends, however.
Combination
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Often, chemotherapy for germ cell cancer will involve a combination of cancer- fighting drugs to give the best chance of recovery.
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