Q & A: about chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy works by stopping or sldwing the growth of cancer cell, which grow and divide quickly.
But it can also harmhealthy cells that divide quickly, such as thosethat line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow.
Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is over.
What does chemotherapy do?
Depending on your type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can:
Cure cancer
When chemotherapy destroys cancer cells to the point that your doctor can no longer detect them in your body and they will not grow back.
Control cancer
When chemotherapy keeps cancer from spreading, slows its growth, or destroys cancer cells that have spread to other parts of yo.ur body.
Ease cancer symptoms (also called palliative care)
When chemotherapy shrinks tumors that are causing pain or pressure.
How is chemotherapy used?
Sometimes, chemotherapy is used as the only cancer treatment. But more often, you will get chemotherapy along with surgery, radiation therapy, or biological . therapy. Chemotherapy can:
Make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
Destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
Help radiation therapy and biological therapy work better.
Destroy cancer cells that have come back (recurrent cancer) or spread to other parts of your body (metastatic cancer).
How does my doctor decide which chemotherapy drugs to use?
This choice depends on:
The type of cancer you have. Some type of chemotherapy drugs are used for many types of cancer. Other drugs are used for just one or two types of cancer.
Whether you have had chemotherapy before
Whether you have other health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease
Where do I go for chemotherapy?
You may receive chemotherapy during a hospital stay, at home, or in a doctors office, clinic, or outpatient unit in a hospital (which means you do not have to stay overnight).
No matter where you go for chemotherapy, your doctor and nurse will watch for side effects and make any drug changes.
How often will I receive chemotherapy?
Treatment schedules for chemotherapy vary widely. How often and how long you get chemotherapy depend on:
Your type of cancer and how advanced it is
The goals of treatment (whether chemotherapy is used to cure your cancer, control its growth, or ease the symptoms)or destroys cancer cells that have spread to other parts of your body.
The type of chemotherapy
How your body reacts to chemotherapy
You may receive chemotherapy in cycles. A cycle is a period of chemotherapy reatment followed by a period of rest. For instance, you might receive 1 week of chemotherapy followed by 3 weeks of rest.
These 4 weeks make up one cycle. The rest period gives your body a chance to build new healthy cells.
Can I miss a dose of chemotherapy?
It is not good to skip a chemotherapy treatment. But sometimes your doctor or lurse may change your chemotherapy schedule.
This can be due to said effects ou are having. If this happens, your doctor or nurse will explain what to do and vhen to start treatment again.
How is chemotherapy given?
This choice depends on:
Injection -The chemotherapy is given by a shot in a muscle in your arm, thigh, or hip or right under the skin in the fatty part of your arm, leg, or belly.
Intra-arterial (IA) -The chemotherapy goes directly into the artery that is feeding the cancer.
Intra-peritoneal (IP) -The chemotherapy goes directly into the peritoneal cavity - (the area that contains organs such as your intestines, stomach, liver and ovaries).
Intravenous (IV) -The chemotherapy goes directly into a vain.
Topically-The chemotherapy comes in a cream that you rub onto your skin.
Orally -The chemotherapy comes in pills* capsules, or liquidsthat you swallow.
How will I feel during chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy affects people in different ways. How you feel depends on how healthy you are before treatment, your type of cancer, how advanced it is, the kind of chemotherapy you are getting, and the dose.
Doctors and nurses cannot know for certain how you will feel during chemotherapy.
Some people do not feel well right after chemotherapy. The most common side effect is fatigue, feeling exhausted and worn out. You can prepare for fatigue by:
Asking someone to drive you tp and from chemotherapy
Planning time to rest on the day of and day after chemotherapy
Getting help with mails and childcare the day of and at least 1 day after chemotherapy
There are many ways you can help manage chemotherapy side effects.
How will I know if my chemotherapy is working?
Your doctor will give you physical exams and medical tests (such as blood tests and x-rays). He or she will also ask you how you feel.
You cannot tell if chemotherapy is working based on its side effects. Some people think that severe side effeects mean that chemotherapy is working well. Or that no side effectsmean that chemotherapy is not working.
The truth is that side effects have nothing to do with how well chemotherapy is fighting your cancer.
What are side effects?
Side effects are problems caused by cancer treatment. Some common side effects from chemotherapy are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, mouth sores, and pain.
What causes side effects?
Chemotherapy is designed to kill fast-growing cancer cells. But it can also affect healthy cells that grow quickly.
These include cells that line your mouth and intestines, cells in your bone marrow that make blood cell, cells that make your hair grow. Chemotherapy causes side effects when it harms these healthy cells.
Will I get side effects from chemotherapy?
You may have a lot of side effects, some, or none at all. This depends on the type and amount of chemotherapy you get and how your body reacts.
Before you start chemotherapy, talk with your doctor or nurse about which side effects to expect.
How long do side effects last?
How long side effects last depends in your health and the kind of chemotherapy you get. Most side effects go away after chemotherapy is over. But sometimes it can take months or even year for them to go away.
Sometimes, chemotherapy causes long-term side effects that do not go away. These may include damage to your heart, lungs, nerves, kidneys, or reproductive organs. Some types of chemotherapy may cause a second cancer year later.
Ask your doctor or nurse about your chance of having long-term side effects.
What can be done about side effects?
Doctors have many ways to prevent or treat chemotherapy side effects and help you heal after each treatment session.
Talk with your doctor or nurse about which one to expect and what to do about them.
Make sure to let your doctor or nurse know about any changes you notice- they may be signs of a side effect.
When to call the doctor or nurse?
Fever greater then 100.5 degrees.
Chills.
Bleeding or unusual bruising.
Sore throat or difficulty swallowing.
Mouth or lip sores.
Dizziness or feeling light-headed.
Problems with urination (Pain, Burning, Urgency, Frequency, Or Decreased Urination).
Flu-like symptoms.
Unusual tiredness, fatigue, or weakness. if Cough or shortness of breath.
Confusion or agitation.
Rapid heartbeat / heart palpitations.
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea that is unrelieved by prescription medication.
New swelling in the arm(s), leg(s) or face.
Any unusual pain.
Source: Cancer Awarness Initiative, AKKHT
