What is
Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is medication that is administered either through a drip into the vein, by oral tablet, or occasionally by injection into a body cavity. This medication is poisonous to cancer cells. Chemotherapy is given to try and kill off any cancer cells that are in the body.
Many chemotherapy drugs are often derived from plants, and some drugs have been specifically developed to target specific abnormalities or differences between cancer cells and normal cells. There are
many different types of chemotherapy with more than 30 drugs in common use in Australia.
Why is
Chemotherapy used?
Chemotherapy is administered to kill tumour cells in the body. Chemotherapy may be given as the only treatment for some
malignancies, however, often chemotherapy is given following surgery to try and "mop up" any residual cancer cells that have not been removed at the time of the operation.
How is
Chemotherapy Given?
Patients having chemotherapy need to be closely monitored during the treatment periods, to ensure the treatment is working as planned, and to monitor closely for side effects. Regular blood tests are required, and measures are taken by the treating doctor to ensure adequate control of any side effects.
Intravenous chemotherapy treatment would usually be administered in a Day Hospital on an outpatient basis, with the patient (often with family or friends) sitting in a chair while the treatment is administered painlessly through an ordinary intravenous drip.
Side Effects
Possible side effects vary widely, depending upon the chemotherapy treatment in use. It is important to realise that the side effects that one person experiences will certainly not apply to all patients. This is due to the variable drugs used and the variable effect of the drugs on different individuals.
The most commonly seen side effects with chemotherapy are: hair loss (although it almost always regrows, usually thicker than before); nausea and vomiting (although generally this is controlled by a specific treatment that is administered with the chemotherapy); and fatigue. There are a range of other side effects, specific to different drugs, which your doctor will discuss with you.
An unusual but important side effect is infection, which can occur due to low white blood cell counts. If this happens, it is usually a week or two following a dose of chemotherapy. If infection or fever does develop then it is critically important that your treating doctor is notified so that appropriate antibiotics can be commenced promptly.
Anti-nausea medication will be given routinely prior to each chemotherapy dose, with extra anti-nausea treatment available for the patient to use at home, if required. Other side effects are dealt with on their merits if they occur. Occasionally (not often) the chemotherapy treatment may need to be modified if side effects are a particular problem.
