This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Hydroxycarbamide which is a chemotherapy drug called an anti-metabolite. It is used to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) head and neck cancers, cervical and ovarian cancer. It works by stopping the production and repair of DNA in cells so they cannot multiply. It is taken in capsule form.
Side effects can include: fatigue, lowered resistance to infection, tiredness and breathlessness, due to anaemia, bruising and bleeding, possible loss of fertility, mild nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, loss of appetite, diarrhoea. Hair loss is rare.
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