This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Gemcitabine (Gemzar) which is a general use drug used for breast, pancreatic, lung and bladder cancer. It is a white powder which is then made up into a colourless liquid, administered intravenously and most often used to treat non-small cell lung cancer. It is generally quite well-tolerated and is considered a lower toxicity chemotherapy agent.
Side effects can include: anaemia and fatigue, a weakened immune system. You may get mouth ulcers, and a rash on your skin and it can temporarily affect the liver and kidneys.
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