CHOP

CHOP is very standard chemotherapy for all lymphomas. In clinical trials in CLL it shows no survival advantage over chlorambucil. The French, though are particularly impressed by min-ChOP, in which a smaller dose of adriamicin is used. It does have some advantage in preparation for an autograft in that unlike chlorambucil you can get CRs from it, and it is easier to get a stem cell harvest after CHOP than after fludarabine.

HyperCVAD is a very intense regimen recommended by MDACC at Houston. It is used for difficult to cure lymphomas, but it is very toxic and only recommended for in-patient use in hospital that are very experienced in the management of chemotherapy-induced pancytopenia.

CHOP usually leads to hair loss which is usually complete, but temporary.
Nausea and sickness are common, but can be avoided by good anti-emetic drugs.
Weight loss is only a feature if the patient stops eating. He may do this
because of mouth ulcers or a bad taste. The other major complication is marrow
failure, which is usually short lived, but may be the cause of neutropenic
sepsis. His doctors will keep a good look out for this. Some people favor giving
Neupogen.