Asian ethnicity and chemo

Options
EbonyEyes
EbonyEyes Member Posts: 85
edited September 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I am mixed ethnicity: Asian(Japanese) and Caucasian(German/Eastern European). I know Asians tend to respond differently to drugs then other ethnicities. Asians respond more slowly to drugs but once we do we are often more sensitive to them and can use smaller doses and use them for a shorter time. Does anyone know if this applies to chemo drugs?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited March 2018

    Hi EbonyEyes:

    I don't know the answer to your question, particularly as there are such a wide variety of chemotherapeutic agents, they could differ in this regard, and I would guess that sometimes it may not have been specifically studied. You can raise this question with the medical oncologist if a particular drug or drug combination is recommended to you, and ask about what is known about the specific drug(s). In some cases, there may be clinical trial results from studies performed in Japan for comparison.

    I am 5'2" like you. One thing to keep in mind, is that chemotherapy doses are typically adjusted according to the size of the patient, based on how they were administered in the trials that led to their FDA approved label. For example, many are administered on milligrams per meter squared basis (mg/m2) to reflect a patient's body surface area (BSA), taking both body weight and height into account. Some might be administered on a milligrams per kilogram (patient weight) basis (mg/kg) basis.

    In addition, you would be monitored during any chemotherapeutic treatment. If certain adverse effects are experienced, there are protocols for delaying the next dose and/or adjusting the dose downward (recommended dose reductions).

    BarredOwl


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories