what to expect during cancer treatment articles

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How will I feel after cancer treatment ends?

It’s normal to have many different feelings after treatment ends. Just as you need to take care of your body after treatment, you need to take care of your emotions. Each person’s experience with cancer is different, and the feelings, emotions, and fears that you have are unique.

How do people respond to cancer patients after treatment?

The response of friends, coworkers, or people at school after your cancer treatment may differ. Some may be a huge source of support, while others may be a source of anger or frustration. Some people mean well, but they do not know the right thing to say. Maybe they just don’t know how to offer support.

What can I expect during radiation treatment?

During your treatment, your radiation oncologist will check how well it is working. Typically, this will happen at least once a week. If needed, they may adjust your treatment plan. Many people experience fatigue, sensitive skin at the site of radiation exposure, and emotional distress during radiation therapy.

How can I feel more confident about my cancer treatment?

Partnering with your doctor to make decisions about your cancer treatment may make you feel more confident as you begin your cancer treatment. Find out how to get involved. You've just been diagnosed with cancer. Your mind is reeling and you feel overwhelmed.

What to expect when getting chemo treatments?

Common side effects of chemotherapy include:Fatigue. ... Hair loss. ... Mouth and throat sores. ... Diarrhea. ... Constipation. ... Nausea and vomiting. ... The doses of chemotherapy can often be adjusted to prevent low blood counts. ... These symptoms usually get better with a lower chemotherapy dose or after treatment.More items...

What are the 4 goals of cancer treatment?

There are four main goals for chemotherapy:Curative therapy to kill all cancer cells.Adjuvant therapy which targets cells left after surgery to prevent recurrences.Neoadjuvant therapy to shrink tumors before surgery.Palliative therapy to give relief when not possible to remove all tumor cells.

What are the 3 goals of cancer treatment?

The goals of cancer treatment include eradicating known tumors entirely, preventing the recurrence or spread of the primary cancer, and relieving symptoms if all reasonable curative approaches have been exhausted.

How does cancer treatment make you feel?

You may experience fatigue if cancer treatment damages healthy cells in addition to the cancer cells. Or fatigue might happen as your body works to repair damage caused by treatment. Some treatment side effects — such as anemia, nausea, vomiting, pain, insomnia and changes in mood — also may cause fatigue.

How successful are cancer treatments?

Approximately 25% to 50% of new cancer treatments that reach the stage of assessment in RCTs will prove successful. The pattern of successes has become more stable over time.

Which cancer is known as the silent killer?

Pancreatic cancer is often called the silent killer, and with good reason – most patients don't experience symptoms until the cancer is big enough to impact the surrounding organs.

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.

What is the most successful cancer treatment?

Top of the best cancer drug list is Celgene's Revlimid (lenalidomide). This drug has been very successful in the treatment of multiple myeloma as it promotes immune responses that slow tumour growth. It is also used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

How does cancer treatment work?

Chemotherapy damages the genes inside the nucleus of cells. Some drugs damage cells at the point of splitting. Some damage the cells while they're making copies of all their genes before they split. Chemotherapy is much less likely to damage cells that are at rest, such as most normal cells.

Can cancer treatment change your personality?

Emotional and mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, and having trouble sleeping can add to that foggy feeling. Chemo brain can also intensify feelings of frustration or anger. That's OK.

How does a cancer patient feel?

A cancer diagnosis can affect the emotional health of patients, families, and caregivers. Common feelings during this life-changing experience include anxiety, distress, and depression. Roles at home, school, and work can be affected. It's important to recognize these changes and get help when needed.

How do you cheer up a cancer patient?

What you can do: VisitsAlways call before you visit. ... Schedule a visit that allows you to give physical and emotional support for the caregiver, too. ... Make short, regular visits rather than long, infrequent ones. ... Begin and end the visit with a touch, a hug, or a handshake.Be understanding if you are asked .More items...•

Before You Start Chemotherapy

Meeting with your oncologist. Before you start chemotherapy, you will meet with your medical oncologist. He or she will review your medical records...

Questions to Ask Before Chemotherapy Starts

Before chemotherapy starts is a good time to ask questions. These may include: 1. Learning more about the schedule and side effects of your specifi...

Planning For Your Chemotherapy Treatments

Preparing for side effects. Depending on the most common side effects of your chemotherapy, your doctor may recommend planning for nausea and vomit...

What Happens on Your First Day of IV Chemotherapy

You may want to bring a friend or family member on your first day of treatment. This person can support you and help you remember information. You...

Giving Chemotherapy With A Port

Before your first appointment, you might have minor surgery to put in a port. This is a round metal or plastic disk that the IV goes in during trea...

How Long Does IV Chemotherapy take?

Your IV chemotherapy can take minutes, hours, or several days if you have continuous infusion chemotherapy. You do not need to stay at the hospital...

After Your IV Chemotherapy

After your treatment is finished, the nurse or another team member will take out your IV. If you have a port, it will stay until you finish all of...

How to get help for cancer?

What Can I Do? 1 Talk to your doctor or other health care provider. Your health care team may be able to help, or they can refer you to mental health services. 2 Reach out for support to family members, friends, those who share your faith, a support group, or a psychologist. 3 Stay as active as you can. Physical activity has been linked to lower rates of depression among cancer survivors.

How does chemotherapy treat cancer?

Chemotherapy drugs treat cancer by killing the fastest-growing cells in the body— both cancer cells and good cells. 2. Neutropenia. White blood cells are good cells that help your body fight infections. Chemotherapy kills many of these cells.

Is it normal to be scared of cancer?

Three-time survivor George Hilliard shares his personal prescription for surviving cancer. Being told you have cancer is scary. It’s normal to feel worried, sad, afraid, or even angry. Some treatments for cancer also can affect your feelings, or make it hard for you to concentrate or remember things.

How to make a reasonable treatment decision?

To make a reasonable treatment decision, keep in mind the type of cancer you have, its stage, what treatment options are available and how likely these treatments are to work under these circumstances. Talk to your doctor about trustworthy websites, books and patient education materials to supplement your discussions.

How to make sure you're getting the information you need to make an informed decision?

Effective communication with your doctor is the best way to make sure you're getting the information you need to make an informed decision. To make communicating with your doctor easier, try to: Speak up when you don't understand. If you need further explanation or clarification, tell your doctor.

What to do if you don't feel supported?

If you don't feel supported in your decision-making, contact advocacy groups such as the American Cancer Society, which can put you in touch with cancer survivors who may be able to help you through this process. It might help to write down your expectations and preferences before you meet with your doctor.

Can you endure the side effects of harsher treatments?

If this is your goal, you might not be willing to endure the side effects of harsher treatments. Comfort. If you have an advanced stage of cancer or a cancer that hasn't responded to treatments, you might decide that comfort is most important to you.

Can you cure cancer?

When you're first diagnosed, it's likely you'll be interested in treatments that cure cancer. When a cure is possible, you may be willing to endure more short-term side effects in return for the chance at a cure. Ask your doctor about your chances for a cure to help you understand more about your situation. Control.

How long does radiation treatment last?

What Happens During Radiation. The treatment is normally Monday through Friday and lasts about 45 minutes. A lot of time is spent getting your body in the right position, so the radiation hits its desired locations. You lay down on a custom-molded table. A technician positions your body using lasers and measurements.

How long does it take for radiation to hit your body?

This may seem scary, but this ensures the radiation does not hit healthy areas. The radiation takes a couple of minutes. You can sense when the radiation hits your body if you receive radiation to your brain.

Does radiation cause hair loss?

Radiation to your brain causes hair loss, but over time it grows back. As your hair grows again, so will you. Remember, during and after radiation treatment, listen to your body, ask questions, acknowledge side effects and adjust.

What to expect when getting radiation therapy?

What to Expect When Having Radiation Therapy. It is normal to feel worried or overwhelmed when you learn that you will need radiation therapy. However, learning more about this type of cancer treatment may help you feel more prepared and comfortable.

How long does radiation therapy last?

It is the most common radiation therapy treatment for cancer. Each session is quick, lasting about 15 minutes. Radiation does not hurt, sting, or burn when it enters the body.

Why is it important to be in the same position for radiation?

It is important for your body to be in the same position for each treatment. Your radiation oncology team cares about your comfort. Talk with the team to find a comfortable position that you can be in every time you come in for radiation therapy.

How often should you check for radiation?

During your treatment, your radiation oncologist will check how well it is working. Typically, this will happen at least once a week. If needed, they may adjust your treatment plan.

What is informed consent for radiation?

Giving permission for radiation therapy. If you choose to receive radiation therapy, your health care team will ask you to sign an "informed consent" form. Signing the document means: Your team gave you information about your treatment options. You choose to have radiation therapy.

How long does it take for radiation to go away?

The 2-day break in treatment each week allows your body some time to repair this damage. Some of the effects may not go away until the treatment period is completed. Let the health care professionals if you are experiencing side effects. Read more about the side effects of radiation therapy.

Can you be nauseated from radiation?

But some may experience weakness or nausea from the anesthesia. You will need to take precautions to protect others from radiation exposure. Your radiation therapy team will provide these instructions. The need for such precautions ends when: The permanent implant loses it radioactivity. The temporary implant is removed.

What to expect after cancer diagnosis?

After your cancer diagnosis, you may feel anxious, afraid or overwhelmed and wonder how you can cope during the days ahead.

How to get rid of cancer?

Maintain a healthy lifestyle. This can improve your energy level. Choose a healthy diet consisting of a variety of foods and get adequat e rest in order to help you manage the stress and fatigue of the cancer and its treatment. Exercise and participating in enjoyable activities also may help.

Why is accepting help important?

Accepting help gives those who care about you a sense of making a contribution at a difficult time. Also encourage your family to accept help if it's needed. A cancer diagnosis affects the entire family and adds stress, especially to the primary caregivers.

How to communicate with your loved ones after cancer?

Maintain honest, two-way communication with your loved ones, doctors and others after your cancer diagnosis. You may feel particularly isolated if people try to protect you from bad news or if you try to put up a strong front. If you and others express emotions honestly, you can all gain strength from each other.

Can you talk to someone who has cancer?

Sometimes it will feel as if people who haven't experienced a cancer diagnosis can't fully understand how you're feeling. It may help to talk to people who have been in your situation. Other cancer survivors can share their experiences and give you insight into what you can expect during treatment.

What happens during the last stage of cancer?

The symptoms that occur during the last stage of cancer vary depending on the site of the cancer and spread to other organs or tissues. As the final weeks to days approach, however, a rather predictable course typically occurs with certain telltale signs and symptoms. Hospice care helps make the end-of-life transition as comfortable as possible ...

Why do people have a diminishing appetite after cancer?

Although this desire arises from a loving place, insisting on eating often taxes the person who is ill beyond their physical capacity because the digestive system gradually shuts down as cancer progresses.

What is the role of caregivers in cancer?

Caregivers take on increasing amounts of required personal care, such as: Time is primarily spent in bed sleeping. In the last few days of life, consciousness is often limited with little to no responsiveness. In the final stage of cancer, activity gradually decreases.

Can cancer be life threatening?

Despite advances in cancer treatment, the disease remains life threatening if therapy fails to cure the illness. When treatment can no longer control disease progression, cancer eventually advances to its final stage. The symptoms that occur during the last stage of cancer vary depending on the site of the cancer and spread to other organs ...

Can cancer cause confusion?

Brief periods of confusion can occur, especially upon waking from sleep. The ill person might become confused about time and place, such as thinking they are in their childhood home rather than their current residence.

Does cancer affect appetite?

The timing of this symptom might occur earlier with liver or digestive cancer than with other types of cancer. Loss of appetite typically leads to weight loss. Both of these symptoms tend to provoke distress in family members who view feeding their loved one as an expression of deep affection. Although this desire arises from a loving place, insisting on eating often taxes the person who is ill beyond their physical capacity because the digestive system gradually shuts down as cancer progresses. In the final weeks of life, many people subsist primarily on liquids. This gradually decreases to a few sips at a time, at most, during the last few days of life.

Finding Premiere Experts and Care

What Happens During Radiation

• The treatment is normally Monday through Friday and lasts about 45 minutes. A lot of time is spent getting your body in the right position, so the radiation hits its desired locations. You lay down on a custom-molded table. A technician positions your body using lasers and measurements. When you are aligned, a mouthguard and wired head case are pla...

See more on cancer.gov

What Happens After Radiation

Advice For Others