What is ABVD Chemotherapy

Learning that you need chemotherapy can be very intimidating. You are likely to have a lot of questions, concerns, and fears. This is normal. After all, when most of us think about chemo, we envision someone that has lost all of their hair and is very sick. And, we also know that chemotherapy is not always successful.

To ease your fears, you can learn more about the type of chemotherapy you will be receiving. Learn how it affects the type of cancer you have. You may also want to take the time to learn about the side effects that are likely to be experienced with the type of chemotherapy you will be receiving. Knowing more about your treatment and what to expect can help you prepare and feel less stressed when your treatment begins.

What is ABVD Chemotherapy?

ABVD is most commonly used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is a cancer of the lymphatic system in which the lymphatic cells grow in an abnormal way. The cells can then spread outside of the lymphatic system to the rest of the body. As the condition persists and progresses, you will be less able to fight infection and are at a higher risk for serious illness.

There are four different types of drugs found in ABVD chemotherapy; doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine. Two of the drugs, vinblastine and doxorubicin, are given through an IV with saline fluids. The other two drugs, dacarbazine and bleomycine are given by infusion.

Before Starting Treatment

You should talk to your doctor about your medical history before starting ABVD chemotherapy. Some previous treatments or health conditions that can increase your chance for serious side effects, like previous radiation to chest. Additionally, you should talk to your doctor if you suspect that you are pregnant.

While ABVD chemotherapy is thought to not cause any permanent damage to fertility, you should still talk to your doctor if you plan to start a family someday. Your doctor may recommend that you bank your eggs or sperm, just to be on the safe side.

What to Expect During Treatment

In most cases, ABVD chemotherapy is considered an outpatient type of treatment. This means that you will not stay in the hospital overnight. Your doctor may choose to admit you, however, if you have an advanced stage of cancer that is making you very ill or if you have other serious health conditions.

Before you can receive treatment, your doctor will perform a blood test to ensure that you are able to receive treatment. Once your doctor has received the results of your blood test, as long as everything is okay, you will start your treatment. It will start at a chemotherapy treatment center where a nurse prepping your arm or hand for an IV. However, in some cases, a cannula must be used, which is a small plastic tube that is placed underneath the skin around the collarbone area.  ABVD chemotherapy treatments usually last for about two hours. You will then return home, once you are feeling well enough to do so.

ABVD chemotherapy is given in cycles. Once you complete the first phase of your chemotherapy drugs, you will take a two week rest. You will then restart your chemotherapy and go through another two week period of rest. This is considered one cycle of treatment. Two weeks later, you will start a new cycle. Generally, patients are given between two and eight cycles of ABVD which can take anywhere from two to eight months to complete. Your doctor will base the number of cycles you need based upon the severity of your cancer and how well you are responding to treatment.

Side Effects of ABVD Chemotherapy

Like all chemotherapy treatments, there are multiple side effect possibilities. It is unlikely that you will experience all of the side effects that can occur with ABVD chemotherapy but you are likely to experience at least some of them. For each patient, the side effects can be different.

Nausea, vomiting, hair loss, ulcers of the mouth, changes in your skin or nails, fever, allergic reaction, numbness or tingling in the extremities, changes in bowels, and fatigue are all very common side effects experienced with ABVD chemotherapy. A more serious side effect is the reduction of white blood cells. This can cause an increased chance of infection, high temperature, and unexplained or abnormal bruising or bleeding. You should talk to your doctor about any side effects that occur while you are receiving ABVD chemotherapy. Some side effects can be serious. Others can be remedied or reduced with the help of medication.

Patients who receive ABVD chemotherapy are also at a higher risk for secondary cancers. However, you should be aware that Hodgkin’s disease also places you at a higher risk, so there is no way to tell for sure which condition is most responsible for creating secondary tumors. You should talk to your doctor about your risk regarding secondary cancers.