| Chemotherapy Treatments |
| Written by Barbara Tiger | |
What Will Happen during Chemotherapy?Chemotherapy treatments result in the improvement of your health. Chemotherapy is a term used to describe the many medications that are necessary to improve your health. Chemotherapy is a combination of medications, or just one, depending on your need, that is taken in one of several ways. The medications are used specifically by doctors because of their ability to interact with cancer cells, killing them and stopping your cancer from returning. Each person will go through a different type of treatment for cancer and the chemotherapy that is used is directed at your specific needs.How Is It Administered?Chemotherapy treatments are administered in several ways. Your doctor will determine which the right one for you is based on the type of cancer you have, the location of the cancer and your overall health. This is done on a patient by patient consideration though some cancer drugs used in chemotherapy can only be given in one or two ways. Your doctor will be able to tell you how the chemotherapy treatment will work for you. Here are some ways that it could be administered:
The most common method of getting chemotherapy drugs is through injections. These are injected into a vein in your body. This can take just a few minutes, or they may take longer because it is being done through a drip, which will supply medications over a 30 minute or longer period. Some of the most high dose chemotherapy drugs need to be administered continuously over a few days in order to be effective. Some may even require that you wear a pump that administers them ongoing for weeks at a time. During your chemotherapy treatments, doctors will work with you to make you comfortable and able to handle as much of the situation as possible. Many people that take chemotherapy treatments will have side effects. For example, chemotherapy nausea is very common because it is the reaction to the medications in your body. It is a natural reaction as the body tries to get rid of the toxins that are in it. Still, this does not make the process any easier to deal with. If your symptoms are troubling during chemotherapy, your doctor may offer medications that will counteract or treat the symptoms of chemotherapy. These medications can help slow down the nausea or allow a reduction in the pan you feel. Most often, getting chemotherapy treatment done is a process that involves stages over time. You may need to have the treatment done several times over a few weeks. You may need to remain in the hospital or you may be able to go home in between. There are many different types of cancer and many different chemotherapy treatment options for each one. Talk to your doctor about your possible side effects and questions. |
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