Day 30 - Learning about Chemo

I have been tired all day. Yesterday was a hard day.
I ate a real breakfast at a restaurant this morning. Not healthy for my body, but great for my soul.

I have been trying to learn more about different chemotherapy drugs, so I'll know more about what the Oncologist will prescribe. There are many different types of chemo, as well as different dosages. I need to read up more about the many types, such as:

Alkylating agents - These damage DNA to keep the cell from reproducing. They can cause long-term damage to the bone marrow. This can lead to leukemia.
 
Antimetabolites - These agents damage cells during the phase when the cell’s chromosomes are being copied.
 
Anti-tumor antibiotics -  Here the term Antibiotic is used in the general sense. It kills biotics like cancer.
 
Anthracyclines - anti-tumor antibiotics that interfere with enzymes involved in DNA replication.
 
Topoisomerase inhibitors - These drugs interfere with enzymes which help separate the strands of DNA.
 
Mitotic inhibitors - Plant alkaloids and other compounds derived from natural products. They damage cells by keeping enzymes from making proteins needed for cell reproduction
 
Corticosteroids - Corticosteroids, often simply called steroids, are useful in the treatment of many types of cancer, as well as other illnesses. 

Other things I have been reading about is the different goals of chemo. Different goals need different drugs.

Copied from here:
http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/what-is-chemotherapy/chemotherapy-terms.aspx

Adjuvant chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given to destroy left-over (microscopic) cells that may be present after the known tumor is removed by surgery.  Adjuvant chemotherapy is given to prevent a possible cancer reoccurrence. 
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given prior to the surgical procedure.  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be given to attempt to shrink the cancer so that the surgical procedure may not need to be as extensive.
Induction chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given to induce a remission.  This term is commonly used in the treatment of acute leukemias.
Consolidation chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given once a remission is achieved.  The goal of this therapy is to sustain a remission.  Consolidation chemotherapy may also be called intensification therapy.  This term is commonly used in the treatment of acute leukemias.
Maintenance chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given in lower doses to assist in prolonging a remission.  Maintenance chemotherapy is used only for certain types of cancer, most commonly acute lymphocytic leukemias and acute promyelocytic leukemias.
First line chemotherapy - Chemotherapy that has, through research studies and clinical trials, been determined to have the best probability of treating a given cancer.  This may also be called standard therapy.
Second line chemotherapy - Chemotherapy that is given if a disease has not responded or reoccurred after first line chemotherapy.  Second line chemotherapy has, through research studies and clinical trials, been determined to be effective in treating a given cancer that has not responded or reoccurred after standard chemotherapy.  In some cases, this may also be referred to as salvage therapy.
Palliative chemotherapy - Palliative is a type of chemotherapy that is given specifically to address symptom management without expecting to significantly reduce the cancer

Targeted therapy is like chemo that is more specific in attacking cancer cells only, and leaving other fast growing cells alone. Some fast growing cells are  hair, intestines, mucus membranes, and bone marrow. Targeting allows stronger doses, with less side effects.

I also need to read about Immunotherapy. That sounds like the one with the best prospects of a "cure".

 There is so much to learn, to be able to understand what is happening to me, and how to fight it best.