These medications are given in a particular regimen over a period of weeks.
Most chemotherapeutic medications have the ability to directly kill cancer cells .
For this same reason, these medications can suppress the bone marrow to some degree, lowering white blood cell counts. This results in a condition known as immunosuppression, and can place the patient at an increased risk of infection . Examples include busulfan, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, melphalan, vincristine, vinblastine, and chlorambucil. See also immunosuppressive agents.