Chemotherapy is the most common type of treatment that is given to a cancer patient. Chemotherapy prevents cancer cells from dividing and reproducing. It also affects the healthy cells but after discontinuation of the treatment, healthy cells repair themselves but cancer cells cannot. As a result cancer cells die and the patient is cured.
Chemotherapy can be given before or after a cancer surgery to reduce the size of the cancer tumor and to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be given along with other treatments like radio therapy, immune therapy, biological therapy and drugs.
Chemotherapy is given to:
- Treat the fast spreading cancer
- Shrink the cancer tumor before radiotherapy and surgery
- Treat types of cancer which are very sensitive to chemotherapy
- Prevent the relapse of cancer
Factors on which chemotherapy treatment is given include
- General health/age of the patient
- How the cancer cell looks like under the microscope
- Type of cancer
- Location of cancer
- to how much extent the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
Preparation before the chemotherapy
When a patient get admitted to get cancer chemotherapy, a team of medical professionals (doctor, physician, nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, radiologist and psychologist) attends him. They will do various tests on the patient and then decide the type of chemotherapy treatment to be give and the duration of the same. Some patients have severe side effects and they feel quite depressed during the treatment. Psychologist and dietician help such patients during this time through proper counseling sessions and appropriate diet programs.
Tests done on the patient before giving the chemotherapy treatment
- X-ray, MRI scan or CT scan
- ECG or echocardiogram test to check the functioning of the heart
- Blood pressure check
- Blood and urine test to check the count of blood cells (red and white) and functioning of the liver.
- Lung function test to check the proper functioning of lungs
- Any other test that doctor feels is appropriate
Side effects of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy will have certain side effects because along with the cancer cells healthy cells also get affected. The common type of chemotherapy side effects will include:
- Hair loss
- Vomiting/ nausea
- Fatigue
- Lowered red blood cell count
- Lowered white blood cell count
- Weakness
- Anemia
- Constipation
- Bleeding
- Loss of fertility
Ways of administering chemotherapy
There are basically three common ways of giving chemotherapy; they are:
- Intravenous- The drug is given in the form of an injection that is injected through a drip into the vein
- Oral chemotherapy- It can be taken orally also in the form of pills or tablets
- Through an infusion pump
There are other less common ways by which the chemotherapy drug can be given
- In the muscle (intramuscular)
- In the layer of fat just beneath the skin (subcutaneous)
- In the body cavity (intracavity like chest cavity, tummy, bladder etc)
- In the fluid of the brain and spine (intrathecally)
- Directly in the tumor (intratumoral or intralesional)
Given above was some information on chemotherapy treatment. We hope that this information would answer all your questions regarding chemotherapy treatment.
Chemotherapy is the most common type of treatment that is given to a cancer patient. Chemotherapy prevents cancer cells from dividing and reproducing. It also affects the healthy cells but after discontinuation of the treatment, healthy cells repair themselves but cancer cells cannot. As a result cancer cells die and the patient is cured.
Chemotherapy can be given before or after a cancer surgery to reduce the size of the cancer tumor and to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be given along with other treatments like radio therapy, immune therapy, biological therapy and drugs.
Chemotherapy is given to:
Factors on which chemotherapy treatment is given include
Preparation before the chemotherapy
When a patient get admitted to get cancer chemotherapy, a team of medical professionals (doctor, physician, nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, radiologist and psychologist) attends him. They will do various tests on the patient and then decide the type of chemotherapy treatment to be give and the duration of the same. Some patients have severe side effects and they feel quite depressed during the treatment. Psychologist and dietician help such patients during this time through proper counseling sessions and appropriate diet programs.
Tests done on the patient before giving the chemotherapy treatment
Side effects of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy will have certain side effects because along with the cancer cells healthy cells also get affected. The common type of chemotherapy side effects will include:
Ways of administering chemotherapy
There are basically three common ways of giving chemotherapy; they are:
There are other less common ways by which the chemotherapy drug can be given
Given above was some information on chemotherapy treatment. We hope that this information would answer all your questions regarding chemotherapy treatment.