Chemotherapy is a treatment of cancer. It uses chemicals that kill cancer cells.
Parts of the Body Involved
Chemotherapy can be given in a number of ways. The body areas that are involved will depend on the method chosen.
Reasons for Procedure
This is used to treat cancer. The goal is to reduce the number of cancer cells or decrease the size of tumors.
Risk Factors for Complications During the Procedure
History of allergies
Debilitation
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
You may be asked to take some pre-medications such as:
Steroids
Allergy medications (anti-histamines)
Anti-nausea medications
Sedatives
Antibiotics
Anesthesia
Anesthesia is not used.
Description of the Procedure
Your doctor will talk to you about the best route for the chemotherapy medication(s). You may also be given other medications to fight the side effects.
Chemotherapy drugs may be given in several ways:
By mouth
By injection into a muscle or vein (intravenously)
By catheter into the bladder, abdomen, chest cavity, brain, spinal cord, or liver
Medications to take at home to make you more comfortable (eg, anti-nausea drugs)
Injections of an immune-system boosting drug several days after your chemotherapy has been administered (this will increase your white blood cells and fight potential infections)
Other drugs, including steroids, allergy medications (anti-histamines), anti-nausea medications, sedatives, and antibiotics
How Long Will It Take?
This depends on the route used, the number of medications, and the amount of each medication. A session may be as brief as the time it takes to swallow a pill. I could also take several hours or last overnight. In one type medication is slowly delivered over a week.
Will It Hurt?
The treatment may cause a number of uncomfortable side effects. The delivery of the chemotherapy does not usually hurt. It may hurt if the needle is misplaced. Medication can then leak into your tissue and cause damage. If this happens, tell your doctor or nurse.
Weakened immune system and increased susceptibility to infection
Intense fatigue
Decreased platelet count and easy bruising and/or bleeding
Mouth sores
Numbness, tingling, or weakness due to nerve damage
Kidney damage
Damage to the heart muscle
Infertility
Cessation of the menstrual period
Average Hospital Stay
Chemotherapy is most often done as an outpatient procedure. If you experience excessive vomiting, you may need to be admitted to the hospital. They will give you IV fluids with your treatments.
Postoperative Care
Get a lot of sleep.
Try to eat as healthfully as possible. Appetite changes can be a challenge.
Drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. It will flush the medications out of your kidneys as quickly as possible.
Use special mouth rinses to avoid or treat mouth sores.
Administer post-chemotherapy shots if they are prescribed by your doctor. These will help to keep your white blood count stable.
Try to avoid people with communicable diseases (particularly children). The process will compromise your immune system. Viral illness (eg, cold or flu) can have serious effects.
Outcome
Chemotherapy should help decrease the number of cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Your doctor may order any of the following tests to check the progress of your treatment:
Vomiting that prevents you from holding down fluids
Blood in your vomit
Easy bruising
Nosebleeds, bleeding gums, new vaginal bleeding
Blood in your urine or stool
Burning or frequency of urination
Chest pain
Severe weakness
Shortness of breath, cough
Calf pain, swelling, or redness in the legs or feet (which could signify a blood clot)
Abnormal vaginal discharge, itching, or odor
Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Pain in a new location
Numbness, tingling, or pain in your extremities
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or a "pimple" at the site of your IV
Headache, stiff neck
Hearing or vision changes
Exposure to someone with an infectious illness, including chickenpox
Fever (a fever after chemotherapy in the presence of a low white blood cell count, called a neutropenic fever; the doctor will likely admit you to the hospital)
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care
provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the
advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to
starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
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Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
