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Chemotherapy - Vincristine

vincristine molecule
Vincristine molecule, by P-kun80

Brand Names: Oncovin, VCR, Vincasar Pfs

Vincristine is a chemotherapy drug that is administered for the treatment of acute leukemia, neuroblastoma, thyroid cancer, and lymphoma. It functions as an alkylating agent, meaning it prevents the replication of tumor cells by damaging the DNA.

The drug is used in the treatment of both Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and is administered in conjunction with other chemotherapy drugs in the following regimens:

  • Stanford-V (adriamycin, mustargen, bleomycin, vinblastine, oncoving, etoposide, prednisone)
  • BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, adriamycin, cytoxan, oncovin, prednisone, procarbazine)
  • CHOP (cytoxan, adriamycin, oncovin, prednisone)
  • CHOP-R (CHOP + rituxan)
  • MOPP (mustargen, oncovin, procarbazine, prednisone)

Drug Administration

Vincristine is given intravenously (IV). It is a vesicant, meaning it will irritate arteries, so it should be given through a vein only.

Side Effects

The most common side effect of vincristine use is hair loss. Less common side effects include low blood counts, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, mouth sores, unusual bleeding and/or bruising, bone pain, and blood in the stool or urine.

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Other Treatment Options

  • Patients who are looking for more advanced treatment or who have lymphoma that does not respond to standard treatment may want to consider a clinical study. Click here to find clinical trials in your area.
  • The Zevalin radioimmunotherapy regimen is now approved for certain types of NHL.

For more information on Hodgkin's disease, please see the following pages:

For more information on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, please see the following pages:

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SupportGroups.com aims to build awareness and provide support for Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. If you are a friend or parent of a person that has been diagnosed with Lymphoma, or you have been diagnosed with Lymphoma, you are not alone. Share personal experiences, evaluate information and get support during times of need, illness, treatment or recovery.

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Since the early 1970s, incidence rates for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have nearly doubled. Incidence rates for Hodgkin’s disease have declined about 60%. Better means of diagnosis has also increased the number as doctors better understand cancer of lymphocytes verses other diseases.
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