For these patients, DHAP chemotherapy determines how an individual will respond to high dose therapy. Furthermore, it reduces the lymphoma mass prior to transplant, providing better disease control. DHAP is given to patients via a drip in their arm, and travels through the blood attacking the lymphoma. DHAP takes four days to complete. After this time, the patient is discharged from hospital.
Chemotherapy works best on cells that grow and divide quickly.
Cancer cells, and the cells in the bone marrow, digestive tract, reproductive system and hair follicles also grow quickly. Because chemotherapy is unable to recognise healthy cells from cancer cells, it can affect these parts of the body. Chemotherapy can also affect the liver, kidneys, nervous system, heart and lungs. DHAP chemotherapy can cause side effects to some of these body systems. It is important that patients are aware of this.