NYU Langone doctors may use medications to manage vaginal cancer that has spread throughout the body.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, a group of drugs that destroy cancer cells throughout the body, is given through a vein with intravenous (IV) infusion on a treatment schedule called a cycle. A cycle usually consists of a day or a few days during which drugs are given, followed by three or four weeks of no treatment, allowing you to rest and recover. The duration and number of cycles varies for each woman.
Cisplatin is an example of a drug that doctors may use to manage vaginal cancer.
Targeted Medications
Targeted medications, which are designed to detect and destroy cancer cells, may be used to manage melanoma of the vagina that has spread beyond the skin to other areas of the body.
Managing Side Effects of Medications
Side effects of chemotherapy may include nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Joint pain, skin rash, itching, fatigue, and diarrhea are associated with targeted medications.
To reduce these side effects, your doctor may adjust the dose, prescribe another medication, or recommend supportive care or integrative health therapies.
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