Salvage Chemotherapy is drug treatment for the patients who are not responding or not tolerating other available therapies for particular condition. Often prognosis of such patients is poor. With salvage chemotherapy, one can have hope of curing the cancer or at least extended and better quality life. Usually, salvage chemotherapy is applied after recurrence of cancer.

Chemotherapy treatment is evolved over the many decades. There are different types of chemotherapy treatments such as adjuvant chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, induction chemotherapy and other are available to treat various cancers. With the development of active and less toxic drugs and improved methods to control the cancer, chemotherapy treatments are highly effective.

Even though chemotherapy treatments are effective in producing some good clinical results, there are more chances of recurrence of cancer or incomplete responses. At this stage, salvage chemotherapy is introduced to control or manage various cancers. Like other chemotherapy treatments, salvage chemotherapy should have different goals for different cancerous situation. Various possible objectives need to be considered for each patient with specific cancer while applying salvage chemotherapy.

In salvage chemotherapy, combination of Cisplatin and Cytarabine drug is administered. This combination drug is applied in high doses. Drugs are administered directy I the veins either through injection or through drip. Dose of Dexamethasone is also given along with this therapy. Though salvage chemotherapy treatment is effective, it makes patient very sick.

Before starting salvage chemotherapy treatment, one should understand realistic objectives of salvage chemotherapy. This will lead to clear discussion among patient, his family and concerned physician. Risks associated with salvage chemotherapy including treatment related mortality, toxicities of drug used should be weighed against known benefits of the treatment.

Though salvage chemotherapy seems to be a reasonable option for particular condition, treatment may not be appropriate for individual patient because of physical condition, goals of treatment, stage of cancer and patient?s preference. This factor must be considered before applying salvage chemotherapy.

Salvage chemotherapy associates with some side effects. Most of the drugs used in the treatment are toxic that may lead to morbidity or mortality, including febrile neutropenia, hemorrhage and impaired quality life. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting and hair fall. These side effects may occur months or years after the administration of drugs.

Though salvage chemotherapy has certain advantages, it is rarely performed by doctors. With salvage chemotherapy, life span of patient increases by controlling growth of cancerous cell.