Introduction
ABVD is a popular combination of chemotherapy drugs used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The name originates from the first letters of the four drugs it contains:
- A – Doxorubicin (docs-oh-roo-bi-sin), which is also known as Adriamycin
- B — Bleomycin (blee-oh-my-cin)
- V — Vinblastine (vin-blas-teen)
- D — Dacarbazine (da-kar-ba-zeen)
These medications work together to find and kill cells that develop quickly, including cancer cells.
How ABVD Works
Chemotherapy drugs like ABVD are used to kill cells that divide quickly.
ABVD can help slow down or stop the growth of lymphoma because cancer cells grow and divide faster than most normal cells.
How to Get ABVD
ABVD is given straight into your bloodstream through an IV.
Your care team may provide it to you in numerous ways:
- Central line: a lengthy tube that goes into a vein in your chest and stays there for the whole treatment.
- A PICC line is a tiny tube that goes into a vein in your arm.
- Portacath (port): a tiny device that is put under the skin to make it easier to get to an IV.
You might have ABVD through a cannula, which is a little tube that goes into a vein in your arm, if you don’t have a central line.
A new cannula is put in for each session, unlike a central line.
Cycles of ABVD Treatment
- ABVD is given in cycles so that your body has time to heal between treatments.
- There are four weeks in each cycle.
- On Day 1 and Day 15 of each cycle, you get chemotherapy.
- Most people need 2 to 6 cycles, which means the treatment can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months.
One Cycle Example:
- Day 1: All four medications (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) are given.
- Days 2 to 14: No treatment.
- Day 15: The same four medicines again.
- Days 16 to 28: No therapy.
Bleomycin may be terminated after the first few cycles in some circumstances, based on the results of a PET scan.
Tests While You’re Getting Treatment
Before and during ABVD, you’ll have blood tests on a regular basis to check:
- Counts of blood cells
- How the kidneys work
- Function of the liver
These tests help make sure that your body is handling chemotherapy safely.
Possible Side Effects of ABVD
Everyone has different side effects.
Some are common and go away on their own, while others are less common and may need medical intervention right away.
When to Get in Touch with Your Care Team in ABVD chemo
If you ever have any of the following, always call your medical team or advice line:
- The side effects are getting worse or are really bad.
- You start to show signs of infection, including a fever over 37.5°C or below 36°C, chills, a cough, burning when you urinate, or just feeling bad.
If you tackle side effects early, you can avoid problems.
Common Side Effects of ABVD (more than 10% of patients)
- Infections (because of low white blood cells) can kill you if you don’t get treatment.
- Anaemia, which makes you weary, makes your skin look pale, and makes it hard to breathe.
- Low platelets might make you bleed or bruise easily.
- Fever or chills
- Not wanting to eat and losing weight
- Diarrhea means having more than two loose stools a day.
- Nausea and vomiting, which can typically be controlled with anti-sickness drugs
- Sores and ulcers in the mouth
- Feeling really tired and weak
- Changes in the skin and nails, such as dryness, peeling, rashes, or discolouration of the nails
- Hair loss, which is usually transitory, may grow back in a different way.
- Hand-foot syndrome: painful, red, or peeling skin on the hands and feet
- Changes in the heart, liver, or lungs that are checked with frequent tests
- Temporary red or pink urine is not harmful and is produced by doxorubicin.
Side Effects of ABVD That Happen Less Often (1–10% of Patients)
- Sepsis (a dangerous reaction to an infection)
- Reactions to the infusion (rash, trouble breathing, disorientation)
- Clots in the blood
- An eye illness called conjunctivitis
- Headaches, stomach pain, and issues with the bladder
- Irritation near the IV site
Side Effects of ABVD That Are Rare (less than 1% of patients)
- Not enough water
- Bleeding inside (in the gut or stomach)
- Feeling dizzy or confused
- Pain in the joints or muscles
- Secondary cancer, like acute myeloid leukemia
- Problems with hearing
- Problems with balance
- Sadness
Getting Pregnant, Being Pregnant, and Breastfeeding
- Pregnancy: ABVD can hurt a baby that is still in the womb. Use birth control that works during therapy and for at least seven months following.
- Fertility: ABVD might have an effect on fertility. Talk to your doctor about possibilities including storing sperm or eggs before treatment.
- Breastfeeding: Don’t breastfeed while you’re on ABVD because the chemotherapy medications can get into your breast milk.
Shots and Other Safety Measures
- During therapy and for up to 12 months later, don’t get live vaccines like measles, mumps, rubella, yellow fever, or BCG.
- You can generally get both the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccination. Ask your doctor when the ideal time is to get them.
- Tell your dentist and other doctors that you are getting chemotherapy.
- Let your team know about all the vitamins, drugs, and herbal treatments you use, since some of them can make ABVD work better (for example, grapefruit can make adverse effects worse).
How to Deal with Side Effects
- To help with nausea or loss of appetite, eat small meals often.
- Drink enough water every day (8 to 10 glasses).
- If you’re feeling sick or tired, try relaxing.
- Light exercise could assist you combat weariness.
- To keep your skin healthy, moisturize often.
Last Thoughts
ABVD is one of the oldest and most successful ways to treat Hodgkin lymphoma.
Your healthcare team will help you deal with side effects and keep an eye on your progress.
👉 Have you or someone you care about had ABVD treatment?
We’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below with your questions or share your story.