Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy works by injuring the cancer’s genetic material or DNA, which impairs its ability to divide, multiply, and grow. Most chemotherapy drugs are given through a vein (intravenous) or in a pill taken by mouth. Common pill-form chemotherapies are CCNU (Lomustine), temozolomide (Temodar), procarbazine (Matalan), and etoposide (Toposar). Common intravenous chemotherapies include BCNU (Carmustine), carboplatin (Paraplatin), irinotecan (CPT-11), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). These medications are effective for many brain and spinal cord cancers and are rapidly improving and expanding.