Is ALIMTA platinum-based?

The FDA has expanded the indication for Alimta (pemetrexed) injection in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and platinum-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without EGFR or ALK alterations.

How long can you take ALIMTA?

You may stay on ALIMTA + KEYTRUDA for as long as your cancer remains stable or improves and you don’t have any unacceptable side effects (or up to 35 cycles, about 2 years for KEYTRUDA).

Why do you take folic acid with ALIMTA?

SAN FRANCISCO—Adding vitamin B12 and folic acid to chemotherapy with pemetrexed disodium (Alimta) reduces the incidence of severe life-threatening toxicities, according to research presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO abstract 300).

Is pemetrexed platinum-based chemotherapy?

Standard treatment options for NSCLC include pemetrexed plus platinum compounds, cisplatin, and docetaxel. Pemetrexed is an antifolate drug and targets several folate-dependent enzymes, such as thymidylate synthase (TS). Pemetrexed-based chemotherapy has been used as first-line treatment and yields promising outcome.

Is Alimta a strong chemo?

ALIMTA is a specific type of chemotherapy. As a chemotherapy, it is believed to help to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. However, it may also have an impact on healthy cells, which can cause serious side effects.

What is the strongest chemo drug?

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) is one of the most powerful chemotherapy drugs ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it’s used to treat a wide variety of cancers.

Is ALIMTA a strong chemo?

Does ALIMTA shrink tumors?

Proven to help shrink tumors In a clinical trial, 48% of people experienced a reduction in tumor size in the ALIMTA + KEYTRUDA and platinum chemotherapy group compared to 19% in the ALIMTA and platinum chemotherapy group.

What is the best food to eat after chemo?

What do I eat after chemotherapy and for the next few days?

Apple and grape juice.
Fruit nectars.
Low-salt broth.
Clear soups.
Gatorade.
Popsicles and sherbert.
Gelatin.
Herbal teas, such as ginger and mint.

How long should you take folic acid after chemotherapy?

Folic acid You take it until 3 weeks after your last treatment. You should only take the folic acid tablets your cancer doctor has prescribed for you. Some multivitamins or food supplements contain folic acid. Always talk to your cancer doctor before taking any other vitamins or food supplements.

What is platinum doublet?

Third generation platinum-based chemotherapy doublets, namely combinations of a platinum compound (cisplatin or carboplatin) with one third generation agent (mainly vinorelbine, gemcitabine or taxanes), represented the cornerstone of standard chemotherapy as first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC for almost a decade.

What is platinum chemotherapy?

Platinum-based antineoplastic drugs (informally called platins) are chemotherapeutic agents used to treat cancer. They are coordination complexes of platinum. These drugs are used to treat almost half of people receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

Are steroids necessary with Alimta?

If you’re on Alimta, a corticosteroid like Decadron is part of the FDA-approved administration process, usually day before, day of, & day after. The steroids help control the nausea, can minimize rash-type reactions, increase appetite, & help fight off fatigue (a very common side-effect of Alimta).

Does chemotherapy really cure lung cancer?

Combinations of 2 chemo drugs are often used to treat early-stage lung cancer. If a combination is used, it often includes cisplatin or carboplatin plus one other drug. Sometimes other combinations that do not include these drugs, such as gemcitabine with vinorelbine or paclitaxel, may be used.

What percentage does chemotherapy work?

Some put the effectiveness using the chemotherapy at as little as 2 percent to 4 percent. Others say the results of using chemotherapy for cancer are much higher. In most cases, the only thing the two sides agree on is that the effectiveness of chemotherapy is largely dependent on the stage and type of cancer the patient has.

Is exemestane considered chemotherapy?

Exemestane is in a class of medications called aromatase inhibitors. It works chemotherapy decreasing the amount of estrogen produced by the body. This can slow or stop the growth of some breast tumors that need estrogen to grow. Exemestane is also sometimes used to treat a certain type of breast cancer in women who not yet experienced menopause.