Understanding Your Chemotherapy Treatment
Cancer cells are fast growing cells that grow out of control and can invade surrounding tissue or travel to other organs through the blood stream or lymph system.
Chemotherapy affects these fast growing cells. It is used to stop cancer from spreading, slow the growth of cancer, relieve symptoms caused by cancer, or to cure cancer.
Other naturally fast growing cells in our bodies such as hair follicles, the lining of the GI tract, and blood cells can also be affected.
This may potentially cause side effects such as hair loss, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, constipation, diarrhea, or low blood cell counts. Your care team will teach you how to best manage the side effects that are expected with your particular chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy can be given by mouth, by IV (Intravenously), topically or by injection. Cycles can be weekly, every 2 weeks, every 3 weeks, 3 out of 4 weeks, etc.
Chemotherapy can affect your whole system. These drugs are designed to destroy and prevent further growth of cancer cells. Therefore, your body system may need assistance during chemotherapy. Remember generally you are at higher risk for infection especially 7-10 days after receiving chemotherapy. Take good care of your body while receiving treatment. Some newer classes of drugs are called Targeted Therapies. These target and attack the actual cancer cells.
Immunotherapy drugs use your body’s own immune system to help fight cancer. Side effects from these treatments are different from chemotherapy side effects. Your education nurse will discuss side effects with you.
Your Oncologist will determine the best treatment regimen for you based on your general condition, your type of cancer, stage of your cancer, and goal of treatment.
Let the nurse and/or Oncologist know if you are having difficulties during your treatment so they can help you.
