How Chemotherapy Works Against Cancer
Normally, cells live, grow and die
predictably. Cancer occurs when certain cells of the body continue to
divide and form more cells without the ability to stop this
process. Chemotherapy protocols lead to the destruction of cancer cells by
preventing the cells from multiplying. Unfortunately, during the treatment
process with chemotherapy protocols, healthy cells can also be affected,
especially those that by their nature should be divided rapidly.
Chemotherapy is used to:
·
Treat Cancer
Chemotherapy can be
used to cure cancer, lessen the chance it will return, or stop or slow its
growth.
·
Ease Cancer Symptoms
Chemotherapy can be used to shrink tumors that are
causing pain and other problems
Who Receives Chemotherapy
Your treatment plan will depend on the
type of cancer, the drugs used in chemotherapy, the goals of treatment and the
response of your body. Chemotherapy can be used on its own or with other
treatments. You can receive treatment every day, every week or every
month. There may be some pauses between treatments so that your body has
the opportunity to produce new healthy cells. You can take medicines
orally, injections, cream or intravenously.
How
Chemotherapy Is Used with Other Cancer Treatments
There are several ways to use
chemotherapy:
·
As a treatment in
advanced or metastatic disease, where there is no local treatment alternative.
·
As a complementary
therapy (adjuvant) to local treatments (surgery or radiotherapy).
·
As an induction or
neoadjuvant treatment in patients with localized tumors. It is used as a
treatment prior to surgery and radiotherapy, with the intention of decreasing
the likelihood of distant metastasis, using more conservative techniques in
surgery, by decreasing the tumor size, and promoting knowledge of the
sensitivity of the tumor to the drugs used.
·
As a direct
instillation in specific regions: in the cerebrospinal fluid, in the pleural,
pericardial and peritoneal cavities.
Chemotherapy
Can Cause Side Effects
Of course, anti-tumor chemotherapy has a
number of side effects. The drugs used in this case are much more powerful
than the antibiotics that we can get in the pharmacy with a normal
prescription.
The most common side effect is fatigue,
which is feeling exhausted and worn out. You can prepare for fatigue by:
·
Asking
someone to drive you to and from chemotherapy
·
Planning
time to rest on the day of and day after chemotherapy
·
Asking
for help with meals and childcare on the day of and at least one day after
chemotherapy
How Your Doctor Decides
Which Chemotherapy Drugs to Give You
There are many different
chemotherapy drugs. Which ones are included in your treatment plan depends
mostly on:
·
The
type of cancer you have and how advanced it is
·
Whether
you have had chemotherapy before
·
Whether
you have other health problems, such as diabetes or heart
disease
Where You Go for Chemotherapy
You may receive chemotherapy during a hospital stay, at
home, or as an outpatient at a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. Outpatient
means you do not stay overnight. No matter where you go for chemotherapy, your
doctor and nurse will watch for side effects and help you manage them.
How
Often You Receive Chemotherapy
Treatment schedules for chemotherapy vary widely. How often
and how long you get chemotherapy depends on:
·
Your
type of cancer and how advanced it is
·
Whether
chemotherapy is used to:
o Cure your cancer
o Control its growth
o Ease symptoms
·
The
type of chemotherapy you are getting
·
How
your body responds to the chemotherapy
You
may receive chemotherapy in cycles. A cycle is a period of chemotherapy
treatment followed by a period of rest. 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
Missing
a Chemotherapy Treatment
It
is best not to skip a chemotherapy treatment. But, sometimes your doctor may
change your chemotherapy schedule if you are having certain side effects. If
this happens, your doctor or nurse will explain what to do and when to start
treatment again.
How
Chemotherapy May Affect You
Chemotherapy affects people in different ways. How you feel
depends on:
·
The
type of chemotherapy you are getting
·
The
dose of chemotherapy you are getting
·
Your
type of cancer
·
How
advanced your cancer is
·
How
healthy you are before treatment
Since
everyone is different and people respond to chemotherapy in different ways,
your doctor and nurses cannot know for sure how you will feel during
chemotherapy.
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