Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that makes use of potent chemicals to kill rapidly growing cells in your body.

Chemotherapy is mostly known as treatment method against cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply faster than most cells in the body.

Many different chemotherapy drugs are available. Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination with other forms of treatment to treat a wide range of cancers.

Though chemotherapy is an effective way to treat many types of cancer, it carries a risk of side effects. Some chemotherapy side effects are mild and treatable, while others can lead to serious complications.

The main reason for a chemotherapy is killing cancer cells in individuals with cancer.

There are a variety of settings in which chemotherapy may be used in people with cancer:

• To cure cancer without any other treatments: Chemotherapy can be used as the primary or sole treatment for cancer.
• After treatments to kill illusive cancer cells: Chemotherapy can be utilized after treatments, such as surgery, to kill any cancer cells that might remain in the body. Doctors call this adjuvant therapy.
• To prepare for other treatments: Chemotherapy can also be used to shrink a tumor to facilitate other treatments, such as radiation and surgery, are possible. Doctors call this neoadjuvant therapy.
• To ease signs and symptoms: Chemotherapy may help relieve signs and symptoms of cancer by killing some of the cancer cells. This is called palliative chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy for conditions other than cancer: Some chemotherapy drugs can be used in treating other conditions, such as Bone marrow diseases. Diseases that affect the bone marrow and blood cells may be treated with a bone marrow stem cell transplant. Chemotherapy is often used to prepare for a bone marrow stem cell transplant.
• Immune system disorders: Immune system disorders. Lower doses of chemotherapy drugs can help control an overactive immune system in certain diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The potential risks of chemotherapy drugs include the following:

• Hair loss
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Mouth sores
• Pain
• Constipation
• Easy bruising

Many of these side effects can be prevented or treated. Most side effects subside after treatment is completed.

Long-lasting and late-developing side effects:

Chemotherapy drugs can also lead to side effects that do not become evident unlit months or years after the initial treatment.

Late side effects vary depending on the chemotherapy drug but can include:

• Damage to lung tissue
• Heart problems
• Infertility
• Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
• Kidney problems
• Risk of a secondary cancer

Ask your doctor if you have a risk of any late side effects. Also, ask what signs and symptoms you should be alert for that may signal a problem.

The ways of preparing yourself for chemotherapy depends on which drugs you will receive and how they will be administered. Your doctor will give you a specific list of instructions to prepare you for chemotherapy treatments.

You may need to do the following:

• Have a device surgically inserted before intravenous chemotherapy: If you will be receiving your chemotherapy intravenously, your doctor may a recommend a device, such as a catheter, port or pump. The catheter or another device is surgically implanted into a large vein, usually in your chest. Chemotherapy drugs can be administered through the device.
• Undergo tests and procedures to make sure your body is ready to receive chemotherapy: A blood test to check kidney and liver function and heart test to check for the health of the heart can determine whether your body is in a good condition for chemotherapy. If there happens to be a problem, you may delay your treatment or select a different chemotherapy drug and dosage that is safer for you.
• See your dentist: Your doctor may recommend that a dentist checks your teeth for signs of infection. Treating existing infections may reduce the risk of complications during chemotherapy treatment since some chemotherapy may reduce your body's ability to fight infection.
• Plan ahead for side effects: Ask your doctor what side effects to expect during and following the chemotherapy and make the appropriate arrangements. For example, if your chemotherapy treatment will lead to infertility, you may wish to consider your options for preserving your sperm or eggs for future use. If your chemotherapy will cause hair loss, consider planning for a head covering.
• Make arrangements for help at home and at work: Most chemotherapy treatments are given in an outpatient clinic, which means most people are able to continue working and doing their usual activities during chemotherapy. Your doctor can tell you in general how much the chemotherapy will affect your usual activities, but it's difficult to predict exactly how you'll feel. Ask your doctor if you'll need time off work or help around the house after treatment. Ask your doctor for the details of your chemotherapy treatments so that you can make arrangements for work, children, pets or other commitments.
• Prepare for your first treatment: Ask your doctor or chemotherapy nurses how to prepare for chemotherapy. It may be helpful to arrive for your first chemotherapy treatment well-rested. Eat a light meal beforehand in case your chemotherapy medications cause nausea. Have a friend or family member drive you to your first treatment. Most people can drive themselves to and from chemotherapy sessions. But the first time, you may find that the medications make you sleepy or cause other side effects that make driving difficult.

Read on to learn more about what to expect before, during, and after your chemotherapy procedure.

Determining which chemotherapy drugs you will receive

Your doctor chooses which chemotherapy drugs you will be given based on a number of factors, including:

• Type and stage of cancer
• Overall health
• Previous cancer treatments
• Your goals and preferences

Discuss you treatment options with your doctor. Together you can make a decision on what is the best for you.

How chemotherapy drugs are given

Chemotherapy drugs can be given in a number of ways including:

•  Chemotherapy infusions: In most cases, chemotherapy is given as an infusion into a vein (intravenously). The drugs can be given by inserting a tube that has a needle into a vein in your arm or into a device in a vein in your chest.
• Chemotherapy pills: Certain chemotherapy can be taken in the forms of a pill or capsule.
• Chemotherapy shots: Chemotherapy drugs can also be injected with a needle.
• Chemotherapy creams: Creams or gels containing chemotherapy drugs can be applied to the skin to treat certain types of cancer.

• Chemotherapy used to treat one area of the body: Chemotherapy drugs can also be given directly to one area of the body. For example, chemotherapy drugs can be given directly in the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy), chest cavity (intrapleural chemotherapy), or central nervous system (intrathecal chemotherapy).

  Chemotherapy can also be given through the urethra into the bladder (intravesical chemotherapy).

• Chemotherapy is given directly to cancer: Chemotherapy can be given directly to cancer or after surgery, in the previous location of cancer.

  As an example, thin disk-shaped wafers containing chemotherapy drugs can be placed near a tumor during surgery. These wafers breakdown with, releasing chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy may also be injected into a vein or artery that directly feeds a tumor.

How often you receive chemotherapy

Your doctor will determine how often you will receive your treatments based on what drugs you will be given, the characteristics of your cancer and how efficiently your body recovers after every treatment.

Chemotherapy treatment schedules vary. Chemotherapy treatment can be continuous or it may be alternate between periods of rest to let you recover.

Where you receive chemotherapy treatments

Where you will receive your chemotherapy treatments depends on your situation.

Chemotherapy treatments can be given:

• In in a doctor's office
• In the hospital
• In an outpatient chemotherapy unit
• At home, such as when taking chemotherapy pills

The results of a chemotherapy procedure will be given by your doctor. You will regularly meet with your cancer doctor (oncologist) during chemotherapy treatment.

Your oncologist will ask about any side effects you are experiencing since most of them can be controlled.

Depending on your situation, you may also undergo scans and other tests to monitor your cancer during chemotherapy treatment.

These tests can give your doctor an idea of how your cancer is responding to the treatment given, and your treatment may be adjusted accordingly.