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What Are The Side Effects Of Chemotherapy Drugs?

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Posted on Tue, 16 Dec 2014
Question: Academic question. In the testing of chemotherapy drugs I have read that some of the CONTROLsubjects, who are only taking a dummy drug/ blank, also suffer side effects. Does this include the more serious side effects of bone marrow depression, mouth mucus membrane inflammations as well as the less serious side effects of loss of hair, fear anxiety and nausea and vomiting?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monish De (25 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Control subjects suffer all kind of side effects

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Control subjects in testing of chemotherapy drugs suffer more serious side effects of bone marrow depression, mouth mucus membrane inflammations as well as the less serious side effects.

It is used in a scientific experiment were the group is separated from the rest of the experiment where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results.

This isolates the independent variable's effects on the experiment and can help rule out alternate explanations of the experimental results.

Control groups can also be separated into two other types: positive or negative.

Positive control groups are groups where the conditions of the experiment are set to guarantee a positive result. A positive control group can show the experiment is functioning properly as planned.

Negative control groups are groups where the conditions of the experiment are set to cause a negative outcome.

Regards

DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Monish De (42 minutes later)
Thank you for your answer. I am not sure I understand what you mean by "isolates the independent variable effects on the experiment. Do you mean the control group? can you recommend some website for me to read about it?

More important question for me is how are the symptoms explained in medicine when the control group is only taking a saline solution or something which is not a drug? There has to be an inflammatory response in the areas where there is damage, eg bone marrow, mouth membranes and hear follicles. How do doctors explain this?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monish De (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
given the standard treatment for the illness

Detailed Answer:
Hi

By isolates i mean the control group.

You can read about in website https://explorable.com/scientific-control-group.

The control group may be given either the standard treatment for the illness or a placebo.

A placebo is an inactive substance that may look like medicine but contains no medicine .It is often a sugar pill with no treatment value. In some studies, the participants in a control group may be given a placebo.

In a particular study, researchers may divide participants into two groups which are an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group is given the experimental treatment under study, while the control group may be given either the standard treatment for the illness or a placebo. At the end of the study, the results of the two groups are compared to determine the effectiveness of the experimental treatment.

When standard treatment is given for the illness in control group inflammatory response in the areas where there is damage eg bone marrow, mouth membranes and hair follicles may occur.

If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.

Regards

DR DE


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Monish De (47 hours later)
Thank you for the website with the information about trials. I am familiar with this information but it is always good to freshen up.

I have read reports that people taking the placebo, ie sugar, saline solution etc have negative responses, that they may have inflammatory responses. I was wondering how you would explain these types of reactions to drugs, ie nocebo effects.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monish De (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Activation of the anterior cingulate cortex area of brain

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Nocebo effects are due to either psychological or physiological causes.

These effects are due to activation of the anterior cingulate cortex which is an area of the brain that contains many opiate receptors.

It sometimes includes motivation and expectation.

People who are highly motivated to believe that a treatment will work may be more likely to experience these type of effects.

Regards

DR DE
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
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Dr. Monish De

Oncologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2229 Questions

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What Are The Side Effects Of Chemotherapy Drugs?

Brief Answer: Control subjects suffer all kind of side effects Detailed Answer: Hi Control subjects in testing of chemotherapy drugs suffer more serious side effects of bone marrow depression, mouth mucus membrane inflammations as well as the less serious side effects. It is used in a scientific experiment were the group is separated from the rest of the experiment where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results. This isolates the independent variable's effects on the experiment and can help rule out alternate explanations of the experimental results. Control groups can also be separated into two other types: positive or negative. Positive control groups are groups where the conditions of the experiment are set to guarantee a positive result. A positive control group can show the experiment is functioning properly as planned. Negative control groups are groups where the conditions of the experiment are set to cause a negative outcome. Regards DR DE