This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Cladribine (2-CdA, Leustat) which is a chemotherapy drug that is given mainly as a treatment for hairy cell leukaemia and CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia). For the hairy cell leukaemia it is administered intravenously, sometimes as a continuous infusion through a fixed line into your body delivered via a small portable pump.
Side effects can include: lowered resistance to infection, bruising or bleeding, anaemia, nausea and vomiting, rashes. Less common are changes in liver and kidney function, neurological changes and fever.
Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy success and reduce side-effects
Other articles that you may find interesting are:
- A diet for Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy overview
- A to Z Guide to Complementary Therapies
Go to: Return to the CANCERactive drug list