It is done during surgery or through a tube with a special port that is put in by your doctor. Intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy: Medicine is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is found in the area surrounding the spinal cord and the brain. Intravenous (IV): The chemotherapy goes directly into a vein.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemotherapy?
Their advantages are as follows:
- Convenience and ease of administration - as oral is easier and less painless than administration of medication by injections.
- Less hospital visits as oral medications can be taken at home
- One does not require admission to hospital - so overall less cost to the patient.
- Easier dose modifications . ...
Is Chemo good or bad?
The good thing in the main is that chemo is temporary in nature, while the effect - cancer remission - may be long term. Doctors prescribe chemotherapy because the upsides (extended life, cancer free, the gift of time) are far greater in the long run than the downsides.
What happens after Chemo is finished?
What happens after treatment finishes? After radiation therapy has finished, your treatment team will tell you how to look after the treatment area and recommend ways to manage side effects. They will also advise who to call if you have any concerns. Life after cancer treatment can present its own challenges.
Does it hurt to receive chemotherapy?
The actual chemotherapy process is usually painless. Some chemo drugs may cause a slight burning as they enter your vein, but this is usually minor and tends to ease as the infusion progresses. If the IV in your hand or wrist, you may feel the burning sensation moving up your arm. This is perfectly normal and will eventually ease off.
Is chemotherapy painful process?
Does chemotherapy hurt? IV chemotherapy should not cause any pain while being administered. If you experience pain, contact the nurse taking care of you to check your IV line. An exception would be if there is a leak and the drug gets into surrounding tissues.
How many hours does chemo treatment take?
The length of time for chemotherapy regimens can range from 5 minutes to 8 or more hours. It all depends on the chemotherapy. Throughout the chemotherapy, your nurse will come in and check your vitals and make sure you aren't reacting to the medications.
What happens when chemotherapy is done?
How does chemotherapy work? It targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancer cells do. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout your body. But it can also affect some fast-growing healthy cells, like those of the skin, hair, intestines, and bone marrow.
At what stage chemotherapy is given?
Chemotherapy is given in cycles — a period of treatment followed by a period of recovery. One cycle may include chemotherapy on the first day and then three weeks of recovery with no treatment. A chemotherapy treatment regimen is made up of several cycles.
What should you not do during chemotherapy?
9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•
How do you feel after first chemo treatment?
The most commonly reported side effect after receiving chemotherapy is fatigue. 7 Give yourself time for extra rest and sleep in the days after a session. Tell your healthcare provider if your fatigue begins to affect your ability to function or complete basic tasks, like bathing.
How many times a week do you get chemo?
You can have chemotherapy once a week or for several days, then rest for several days or weeks. The breaks give the drugs time to do their job. Rest also gives your body time to heal so you can handle side effects like nausea, hair loss, or fatigue. Each set of doses is called a cycle.
How many rounds of chemo is normal?
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
How long is a round of chemo?
Most cycles range from 2 to 6 weeks. The number of treatment doses scheduled within each cycle also depends on the prescribed chemotherapy. For example, each cycle may contain only 1 dose on the first day. Or, a cycle may contain more than 1 dose given each week or each day.
Does chemo cause hair loss?
Chemotherapy may cause hair loss all over your body — not just on your scalp. Sometimes your eyelash, eyebrow, armpit, pubic and other body hair also falls out. Some chemotherapy drugs are more likely than others to cause hair loss, and different doses can cause anything from a mere thinning to complete baldness.
How long after chemo Do you feel sick?
Acute nausea and vomiting usually happens within minutes to hours after treatment is given, and usually within the first 24 hours. This is more common when treatment is given by IV infusion or when taken by mouth.
Does all chemo cause hair loss?
Most people think that chemotherapy drugs always cause hair loss. But some don't cause any hair loss at all or only slight thinning. Other types of chemotherapy may cause complete hair loss. It might include your eyelashes, eyebrows, underarm, leg and sometimes pubic hair.
How is chemo given?
Chemotherapy is typically given in pill form or directly into veins by injection or an IV. In addition to these two forms, chemotherapy may also be administered in several other ways.
What is chemo used for?
Besides treatment for cancer, chemotherapy may be used to prepare people with bone marrow diseases for a bone marrow stem cell treatment, and it may be used for immune system disorders.
What is the treatment for cancer called?
What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is an aggressive form of chemical drug therapy meant to destroy rapidly growing cells in the body. It’s usually used to treat cancer, as cancer cells grow and divide faster than other cells. A doctor who specializes in cancer treatment is known as an oncologist.
Why do you need chemotherapy for breast cancer?
If you’ve undergone surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, such as a lumpectomy for breast cancer, your oncologist may recommend chemotherapy to ensure that any lingering cancer cells are killed, as well. Chemotherapy is also used to prepare you for other treatments.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
hair. skin. lining of your intestinal tract. Because of this, the side effects of chemotherapy include: easy bruising and excessive bleeding. diarrhea. dry mouth.
How to prepare for chemo?
Consider these preparation tips for chemotherapy treatment: Make arrangements for work. Most people can work during chemotherapy, but you may want to be put on a lighter workload until you know what types of side effects you may be experiencing. Prepare your house.
What to do after a first appointment?
Do laundry, stock up on groceries, and do other tasks you may be too weak to do after your first appointment. Arrange for any help you might need. Getting a friend or family member to help with household chores or caring for pets or children can be extremely beneficial . Anticipate side effects.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. Chemotherapy is used to: Chemotherapy can be used to cure cancer, lessen the chance it will return, or stop or slow its growth. Chemotherapy can be used to shrink tumors that are causing pain and other problems.
How does chemo work?
Chemotherapy to Treat Cancer. Chemotherapy works against cancer by killing fast-growing cancer cells. Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
What is the term for a tumor that is smaller before surgery?
Make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy . Destroy cancer cells that may remain after treatment with surgery or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy. Help other treatments work better.
How long can a catheter be left in place for chemo?
This needle can be left in place for chemotherapy treatments that are given for longer than one day. Be sure to watch for signs of infection around your port.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Who Receives Chemotherapy . Chemotherapy is used to treat many types of cancer. For some people, chemotherapy may be the only treatment you receive. But most often, you will have chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.
Where do you put a catheter in a chemo patient?
A catheter is a thin, soft tube. A doctor or nurse places one end of the catheter in a large vein, often in your chest area. The other end of the catheter stays outside your body. Most catheters stay in place until you have finished your chemotherapy treatments.
How long is a cycle of chemotherapy?
For instance, you might receive chemotherapy every day for 1 week followed by 3 weeks with no chemotherapy. These 4 weeks make up one cycle. The rest period gives your body a chance to recover and build new healthy cells.
Definition
Chemotherapy is a group of medications used to treat cancer and sometimes other conditions. In cancer, chemotherapy—oftentimes simply called "chemo"—works by killing cancer cells.
Conditions Treated
Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer, but chemo drugs may also be used to treat autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system is overactive and attacks healthy cells by mistake, including: 2
Who Administers Chemo
If your chemo is used to treat cancer, your oncologist, a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, will oversee your treatment. If chemo is used to treat other conditions, it will be administered by doctors who specialize in treating those conditions. For example, for lupus, it will be a rheumatologist. 3
Types
There are hundreds of types of chemotherapy, and your doctor will choose one or more based on the type, location, and stage of your cancer or other disease. Chemotherapy comes in a variety of forms that can be given: 4
Process
For chemotherapy given intravenously, the type and duration of your therapy and how you will receive your medication will be set when you are ready to start treatment. In the past, chemotherapy was administered in an inpatient setting, but now most therapies take place as outpatient treatments in special offices or facilities.
How to Prepare
Before you start chemotherapy, one of the first things you and your medical team will discuss is how you will get your chemotherapy medication. If it's oral, topical, or by way of injections, the medications can be taken fairly simply. If your chemotherapy is intravenous, you will need to visit a facility for regular infusions.
Side Effects
Not everyone experiences side effects from chemotherapy, and how severe the side effects are can vary from one person to the next. Even if you do have side effects, your medical team will likely prescribe additional medications to help you manage them.
Where is intraventricular chemo given?
Intraventricular or intrathecal chemotherapy is used when drugs need to reach the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that is in the brain and spinal cord . The body's blood-brain barrier does not allow many chemotherapy drugs given systemically (through the whole body) to get to the CSF. There are two ways chemotherapy can be given to the CSF:
Where are intramuscular injections given?
Intra-muscular injections are given through the skin into the muscle layer . This involves the use of a larger needle with deeper penetration than the subcutaneous injection. The medication is deposited in the muscle tissue.
Can you swallow chemo pills?
Oral chemotherapy medications - those that can be swallowed - come in a variety of oral forms (pills, tablets, capsules, liquid), all of which can be absorbed by the stomach or under the tongue.
Can chemo cream be applied to skin?
Some chemotherapy creams are applied directly to the skin in certain cases of skin cancer. The cream is then absorbed through the skin directly into the cancerous lesion. The use of topical preparations is very limited in cancer treatments.
Who decides what chemotherapy to get?
Planning chemotherapy treatments. You and your cancer doctor ( oncologist) will decide what drug or combination of drugs you will get. Your doctor will choose the doses, how the drugs will be given, and how often and how long you’ll get treatment.
What is chemo used for?
More often, chemo is used with surgery or radiation therapy or both. And it's sometimes used with other drugs, such as targeted therapy, hormone therapy, or immunotherapy. For example, chemo may be used... To shrink a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy. Chemo used in this way is called neoadjuvant therapy.
How often is chemo given?
Chemotherapy is commonly given at regular intervals called cycles. A cycle may be a dose of one or more drugs on one or more days, followed by several days or weeks without treatment. This gives normal cells time to recover from drug side effects. Sometimes, doses may be given a certain number of days in a row, or every other day for several days, followed by a period of rest. Some drugs work best when given continuously over a set number of days.
What is the term for the use of drugs to treat cancer?
Chemotherapy refers to the use of any drug to treat any disease. But to most people, the word chemotherapy ( or "chemo") means drugs used for cancer treatment. It's important to know that not all medicines and drugs to treat cancer work the same way. It used to be that the only kind of drug that could treat cancer was traditional or standard chemo, ...
What is the term for the process of shrinking a tumor?
To shrink a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy. Chemo used in this way is called neoadjuvant therapy . After surgery or radiation therapy to help kill any remaining cancer cells in the body. Chemo used in this way is called adjuvant therapy.
Why do people need chemo?
When the cancer is at an advanced stage, probably cannot be controlled, and has spread, the goal of giving chemo may be to improve the quality of life or help the person feel better. For instance, chemo may be used to help shrink a tumor that’s causing pain or pressure so the patient feels better and has less pain.
What is radiation therapy?
Surgery removes a tumor from a part of the body where cancer has been found, and radiation therapy is aimed at a certain area of the body to kill or damage cancer cells. Treatments like these are called local treatments because they affect one part of the body.
What is chemo therapy?
Chemotherapy ("Chemo") uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Learn more about how it works, what to expect during treatment, common side effects, and other FAQs. Skip to main content . Check Your Symptoms . Find A Doctor .
How is chemotherapy delivered?
It may be delivered by a special machine that bombards parts of your body from the outside, or by putting radioactive material on, near, and even inside your body. Biological therapy:Living material in the form of bacteria, vaccines, or antibodiesare carefully introduced to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used to:
How does chemo work?
Also called “chemo,” it’s a way to treat cancerthat uses drugsto kill cancercells. How does chemotherapy work? It targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancercells do. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout your body.
What is the goal of chemo?
The goal of treatment: cure, control growth, or ease pain. The type of chemotherapy. The way your body responds to the treatment. You may have chemotherapy in “cycles,” which means a period of treatment and then a period of rest. For example, a 4-week cycle may be 1 week of treatment and then 3 weeks of rest.
What is the term for shrinking a tumor?
Chemotherapy may be used to: Shrink a tumor before radiation therapy or surgery -- called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery or radiation therapy -- called adjuvant chemotherapy. Make other therapies (biological or radiation) more effective.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Sometimes, it treats cancer by itself, but more often it’s used in combination with: Surgery:A doctor removes cancerous tumors or tissue, or organs contaminated with cancerous cells. Radiation therapy: A doctor uses invisible radioactive particles to kill cancer cells.
Where is chemo injected?
Intrathecal(IT) chemotherapy:Medicine is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is found in the area surrounding the spinal cord and the brain. Intravenous (IV):The chemotherapy goes directly into a vein.
Alkylating agents against cancer cells
Some drugs, such as alkylating agents, directly affect each cancer cell’s DNA. For example, the drug may cause DNA strands to break, preventing cell division. Many alkylating agents can be administered at any point during the cell cycle.
Antimetabolites against cancer cells
Antimetabolites replace and mimic the nutrients that cancer cells need to grow, which starves them to death. This type of drug is most effective when given during the S-phase (synthesis of new DNA) of the cell cycle.
Anti-tumor antibiotics against cancer cells
Antitumor antibiotics uncoil cancer cell DNA strands. This stops them from reproducing. This type of drug can be given at any point during the cell cycle.
Alkaloids against cancer cells
Plant alkaloids block cell division. They may be given at any time during the cell cycle but may be most effective during specific stages of cell development.
How does chemotherapy affect healthy cells?
Healthy, normal cells that are fast growing are also affected by chemotherapy drugs. These include:
Chemo for systemic treatment
If the drugs are meant to work through your entire system, you may get chemo:
Chemo by localized delivery
Chemotherapy drugs may also be used to target tumors in a specific area of the body. These localized delivery systems may use slow-dissolving disks containing chemo drugs or other mediums of delivery:
How is chemo given?
The most common way that chemotherapy drugs are given is through a needle into a vein. This is called intravenous or IV chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can also be taken as a pill, capsule, or liquid by mouth, as an injection or shot, or as a cream that is put directly on your skin.
How to help someone with chemotherapy?
Make a caregiving plan. People receiving chemotherapy may need extra help during treatment with transportation, household chores, and other tasks. Family and friends can provide valuable support during this time, called caregiving. Ask your team what type of caregiving at home you may need during and after treatment.
How long does chemo last?
Most chemotherapy treatments are given in repeating cycles. The length of a cycle depends on the drug (s) you receive. Most cycles range from 2 to 6 weeks. The number of treatment doses scheduled within each cycle also depends on the prescribed chemotherapy.
What type of doctor is best for cancer?
Medical oncologist. This type of doctor specializes in treating cancer with medication. Your medical oncologist works closely with other team members to create your overall cancer treatment plan. They also lead your chemotherapy treatments.
How to get a blood test for cancer?
Have a blood sample taken. Meet with your oncologist so they can check your health and blood test results. Meet the nurse or other health professionals who will give your treatment. Have your blood pressure, pulse, breathing, and temperature taken before starting treatment.
What to tell your chemo team?
Always tell your chemotherapy team about any prescription and non-prescription medicines you take. Include vitamins and other supplements, such as herbs. This is to avoid drug interactions and other unwanted side effects. Your doctor will tell you if you should not take them during chemotherapy.
What is the best treatment for cancer?
Relieving physical and emotional side effects is an important part of your overall cancer treatment. This type of care is called palliative care or supportive care . Talk with your health care team about the side effects you experience and ways to manage and treat them. Learn more about the side effects of chemotherapy.
Why It's Done
- Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in people with cancer. There are a variety of settings in which chemotherapy may be used in people with cancer: 1. To cure the cancer without other treatments.Chemotherapy can be used as the primary or sole treatment for cancer. 2. After othe…
Risks
- Side effects of chemotherapy drugs can be significant. Each drug has different side effects, and not every drug causes every side effect. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the particular drugs you'll receive.
How You Prepare
- How you prepare for chemotherapy depends on which drugs you'll receive and how they'll be administered. Your doctor will give you specific instructions to prepare for your chemotherapy treatments. You may need to: 1. Have a device surgically inserted before intravenous chemotherapy.If you'll be receiving your chemotherapy intravenously — into a vein — your docto…
What You Can Expect
- Determining which chemotherapy drugs you'll receive
Your doctor chooses which chemotherapy drugs you'll receive based on several factors, including: 1. Type of cancer 2. Stage of cancer 3. Overall health 4. Previous cancer treatments 5. Your goals and preferences Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Together you can decide what… - How chemotherapy drugs are given
Chemotherapy drugs can be given in different ways, including: 1. Chemotherapy infusions.Chemotherapy is most often given as an infusion into a vein (intravenously). The drugs can be given by inserting a tube with a needle into a vein in your arm or into a device in a vein in …
Results
- You'll meet with your cancer doctor (oncologist) regularly during chemotherapy treatment. Your oncologist will ask about any side effects you're experiencing, since many 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 …
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiesof tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.
Definition
Conditions Treated
Who Administers Chemo
Types
Process
How to Prepare
Side Effects
Outcomes and Recovery
Summary
- Chemotherapy is a group of medications used to treat cancer and sometimes other conditions. They kill cancer cells by disrupting their reproductive cycle and stopping them from multiplying. Chemo drugs can be administered intravenously into your bloodstream, taken orally, applied topically, or injected as a shot. They are effective at treating canc...
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