Chemotherapy treatments
Chemotherapy is a medical term used for drugs that are used to treat cancerous diseases, but often a part of cancer treatment. Other cancer treatments such as surgery and radiation therapy remove or destroy a cancer cells in a specific area, but chemotherapy works throughout a patient’s body.
Hundreds of drugs can be used in treating cancer. Sometimes therapy might include only one drug at the time, but most often several drugs will be used to either stop the spread of cancer or keep it from reoccurring. This combination treatment is most effective because it reduces the chance of the cancer becoming resistant to the treatment.
Chemotherapy treatments are used with certain goals in mind. Depending on the type of cancer and the stage at the time of treatment the aim might be to completely cure the cancer, slow the cancer’s growth, or destroy cancer cells that might spread from the location of the original tumor. Chemotherapy treatments might also be used to relieve the symptoms of cancer and prolong a patient’s life for as long as possible.
Because of advances in medical care having chemotherapy treatments, doesn’t necessarily mean a long hospital stay. Even long sessions of chemotherapy can be completed at home or in an outpatient basis at a hospital or clinic. In large hospitals, many patients may have their treatment in one large room where conversation or even a television provides a distraction.
Depending on the type of cancer and the prognosis or stage of the disease a cycle of chemotherapy treatments might last several hours, a few days, or everyday for a few weeks. This type of cycle is what patients and medical staff often refer to as a “round of chemo”. The process of receiving a round of chemotherapy treatment is relatively painless. Blood might be drawn for testing, and then an IV line or lines will be started. If necessary because of prolonged treatment or chronic form of the disease a ‘port’ or a catheter type line will be surgically inserted so multiple needle ‘jabs” will no longer be necessary.
Chemotherapy treatments sometimes cause side effects. A patient should talk with their doctor about what kind of side effects they might experience, and measures can be taken to alleviate these symptoms.