This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Fludarabine (Fludara) which is a type of chemotherapy used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), low grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), hairy cell leukaemia, and a type of lymphoma that affects the skin called mycosis fungoides. It is an anti-metabolite, which stops cells making and repairing DNA. It is administered intravenously, as an injection or in tablet form.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has claimed that Fludarabine phosphate has been associated with higher response rates than chlorambucil in clinical trials. No overall survival advantage over other therapies has been demonstrated.
Side effects can include: increased risk of infection, anaemia, bruising and bleeding, fatigue and fever, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, temporary loss of periods, neuropathy, eyesight problems, mouth sores and skin rashes. Fludarabine may cause changes in your immune system that permanently affect the production of blood cells.
Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy success and reduce side-effects
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- A diet for Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy overview
- A to Z Guide to Complementary Therapies
Go to: Return to the CANCERactive drug list