How do you know hydroxyurea was effective?

How do you know hydroxyurea was effective?

Ask your doctor about your blood count numbers to see how they change. The changes in your blood counts can be a good sign that the hydroxyurea is working! These tests will check for: Hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells.

What cancers does hydroxyurea treat?

Hydroxyurea (Hydrea) is used alone or with other medications or radiation therapy to treat a certain type of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML; a type of cancer of the white blood cells) and certain types of head and neck cancer (including cancer of the mouth, cheek, tongue, throat, tonsils, and sinuses).

How does hydroxyurea help?

Hydroxyurea treatment helps the red blood cells stay round and flexible. This lets them travel more easily through tiny blood vessels. In part, this happens because hydroxyurea increases the amount of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) in red blood cells.

What should be monitored with hydroxyurea?

Patients receiving hydroxyurea require frequent blood testing and monitoring, with special attention to development of leukopenia and/or thrombocytopenia. A good continuous doctor-patient relationship and rapport must exist to ensure that potential toxicity is identified at its onset.

Who can prescribe hydroxyurea?

Hydroxyurea is usually prescribed by a hematologist, using rigorous selection criteria. Indications for hydroxyurea include the following: Frequent painful episodes (six or more per year)

Does hydroxyurea cause immunosuppression?

Objective: To demonstrate that, despite a dose-dependent cytostatic effect, hydroxyurea (HU) does not have immunosuppressive effects.

Is hydroxyurea a chemo drug?

Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamate, Hydrea) is a chemo drug that has helped some patients with CMML live longer. This drug comes as a capsule that’s taken by mouth daily. It can bring the numbers of white blood cells and monocytes down to normal.

Is hydrea considered chemotherapy?

Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamate, Hydrea) is a chemo drug that has helped some patients with CMML live longer. This drug comes as a capsule that’s taken by mouth daily. It can bring the numbers of white blood cells and monocytes down to normal. It may also help shrink an enlarged spleen.

Is hydroxyurea a form of chemo?