,Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer that uses drugs to treat the disease. It is given with the aim of extending life and reducing symptoms, but may give for other reasons as well. In some cases, it may even use to cure the disease. Read on to learn more about the treatment.
Treatment with chemotherapy
Treatment with chemotherapy involves administering cancer-fighting drugs to the body. It often administers by a medical oncologist or a cancer nurse. Chemotherapy is given over a day or several hours. It can give intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously. It is important to note that chemotherapy is not usually painful.
Side effects of chemotherapy include a sore mouth and a change in skin colour. Your healthcare provider will explain how to take care of these side effects and how to avoid them. If you feel unwell or have darkened skin, you should seek immediate medical attention. You should also avoid exposure to midday sun and apply a cream containing sorbolene if your skin is dry.
If your blood counts are low, your treatment may alter. You may also give pegfilgrastim to boost your blood count. Antibiotic tablets may also prescribe. As you progress through treatment with chemotherapy, your health care provider will work with you to determine the next steps in your treatment. The most common side effect of chemotherapy is fatigue. This side effect is not relieved by sleep or caffeine.
Treatment with chemotherapy usually lasts 3-6 months. Your doctor may recommend several drugs that are given close together to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back. Some cancers respond well to chemotherapy, but others do not respond to it. As a result, your doctor may recommend a second-line treatment to cure your cancer.
Treatment with chemotherapy, can be given by injection, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously. In the former case, the drugs inject into the muscles, while the latter gives under the skin. In the latter case, your doctor will need to insert a catheter.
Side effects
Chemotherapy is a powerful treatment for cancer, but it can also cause side effects. The good news is that these effects are manageable and usually go away once treatment ends. However, there are some side effects that may remain with the patient for months or even years after treatment finishes. These include damage to the heart, nerve endings, kidneys, and reproductive organs.
During treatment, the drugs used in chemotherapy kill both cancer and normal cells. This damage can cause side effects, which are different for everyone. The severity of the side effects will depend on the type of drug used, as well as the amount and response of the patient. Some patients will experience minor side effects, while others may experience severe ones.
During treatment, patients should keep a record of the chemotherapy they are receiving. This will help them remember the specific side effects of the treatment. Some people use a notebook, diary, or an app on their tablet or smartphone to do this. The treatment team can also help patients manage side effects by offering advice on how to cope with them. Fortunately, the majority of side effects are temporary and subside once the chemotherapy treatment ends.
Some common side effects of chemotherapy include muscle aches, fatigue, and low-grade fever. These side effects usually subside within a few days of treatment, but some can linger for months after the treatment. Patients should discuss any side effects of chemotherapy with their medical team prior to treatment. The team will be able to provide medications or treatments to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy treatments can also affect a patient’s sexual life. If a patient wants to have sex during chemotherapy, they should discuss this with their doctor. If they are planning to have a baby, chemotherapy can cause misleading results on Pap tests (tests that collect cells from the cervix), so they should take birth control measures while taking chemotherapy.
Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms, associated with chemotherapy. It is important to document every side effect that you experience so that your doctor can make an informed decision on how to treat it. For example, if you experience a change in your appetite or a sudden headache, you should make sure to note it down so you can tell your doctor.
During the first few days of treatment, you may feel fatigue. This is a normal side effect of chemotherapy. It tends to last for 48 to 72 hours. It is important to drink plenty of fluids and to have all blood tests done. Chemotherapy affects your bone marrow and your mouth, so it’s important to brush your teeth as much as possible. You should also wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom.
You may also experience nausea during your treatment. Your doctor may prescribe antiemetics to ease your nausea and vomiting. These medications are usually given prior to chemotherapy treatments, although you can also take them at home. Try to eat small meals often and avoid spicy or greasy foods. Drinking cool liquids can also be a good idea during the nausea phase. Try not to eat too much in a short period of time.
Other side effects of chemotherapy can include peripheral neuropathy, which affects the nerves in the hands and feet. It can result in problems with balance and inability to sense location and movement. This can make even the most basic tasks difficult. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy vary depending on the type of chemotherapy used and the nerve fibers affected.
Often used to treat recurrent and metastatic cancers
Chemotherapy is a type of medicine, used to treat a wide variety of cancers. It is commonly administered in the form of pills or injections into a vein or muscle. Patients with advanced cancers may also undergo chemotherapy intravenously, which uses a thin tube to deliver drugs directly into the bloodstream. Patients undergoing chemotherapy may also give drugs orally, or a combination of both.
The FDA regulates the drugs used in chemotherapy, and a therapeutic regimen selects based on the type and stage of the cancer. The FDA has developed general guidelines for choosing an appropriate chemotherapy regimen, but there are also several individual factors to consider, such as the patient’s age, the type and stage of the disease, the previous treatments, and any underlying medical conditions.
The goal of chemo is to reduce tumor size and stop it from spreading. It also helps the patient to feel better and live longer. Some people may not require surgery after undergoing chemo, but this treatment can make the patient feel better and prolong the quality of life.
Recurrent and metastatic cancers can be difficult to treat, and the appropriate treatment depends on several factors, including the location of the cancer. Patients with three or fewer tumors will often respond to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Additionally, some doctors use targeted therapy and immunotherapy to control cancer growth and spread.
The best outcome of chemotherapy is the elimination of the cancer cells. It is also highly effective at preventing the disease from spreading. It can also shrink tumors that are causing pain and pressure. If chemotherapy fails to remove the cancerous tissue and organs, doctors may perform surgery to remove the tumors.
Often given as an outpatient treatment
Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer, usually given as an outpatient treatment in a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital. It can be effective in shrinking tumours and killing cancer cells that remain after surgery. It can also be effective in relieving the symptoms of cancer and improving a patient’s quality of life. Most of the drugs used for chemotherapy are systemic drugs that attack cancer cells in many parts of the body.
Most patients have chemotherapy as an outpatient treatment, although some people may need an overnight or extended stay in the hospital. However, many people can receive chemotherapy in the comfort of their home, provided they have a portable pump. They can also have a visiting nurse give them chemotherapy intravenously or by injection.
Chemotherapy drugs inject into the bloodstream, using a small plastic tube, called a catheter. These medications are given in a series of doses over the course of several minutes. Some chemotherapy drugs can also be given under the skin through a subcutaneous injection. In some cases, chemotherapy drugs can inject into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Cancer cells may pass into the CSF, so intrathecal chemotherapy is given to prevent cancer cells from entering this fluid.
Cancer treatments, given in cycles, which often repeat every few weeks or months. The time between cycles gives your body a chance to build new healthy cells and recover from the effects of the chemotherapy. The length of treatment determines by your doctor.
