Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that kill cells, specifically cancer cells. One of the principles of chemotherapy is that cancer cells are rapidly dividing and therefore drugs are tailored to attack cell division in hope of killing mostly cancer cells. Unfortunately, chemotherapy also kills normal cells.
How can you take care of yourself during chemotherapy?
Knowing how to help yourself can make you feel more in control. These are
just a few of the ways that you can help yourself and begin to feel in control
again.
This information is designed to help you become an informed partner in
your care, but it is only a guide.
Self-help can never take the place of professional health care. Ask your
doctor and nurse any questions you may have about chemotherapy. Also
don't hesitate to tell them about any side effects you may have. They want
and need to know.
How Chemotherapy Works
Chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy can be administered through a vein, injected into a body
cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill, depending on which drug is
used.
Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells; unfortunately, it cannot tell
the difference between a cancer cell and some healthy cells.
So chemotherapy eliminates not only the fast-growing cancer cells but also
other fast-growing cells in your body, including, hair and blood cells.
Some cancer cells grow slowly while others grow rapidly.
As a result, different types of chemotherapy drugs target the growth
patterns of specific types of cancer cells.
Each drug has a different way of working and is effective at a specific time
in the life cycle of the cell it targets.
Your doctor will determine the chemotherapy drug that is right for you.
To understand more about the different ways chemotherapy is given, read
about how people receive chemotherapy.
Discussing the Effectiveness of Cancer Treatment
Understand the goals and risks of each treatment option so you can work
with your doctor to decide which treatment is best for you.
Balance potential benefits against the risks of treatment.
Some risks of cancer treatments may include time away from family and
friends, uncomfortable side effects, or long-term complications.
Cancer treatment may be inconvenient, prolonged, or unavailable close to
home. These are important considerations when evaluating treatment
options, but they are not typically mentioned in medical journals reporting
the results and benefits of new treatments.
Once you and your doctor have decided on a treatment plan, talk with your
doctor about all you can do to make sure you get the full dose of your
cancer treatment on schedule.
You can make note of subjects to discuss and questions to ask by using
Tools for Organizing Your Cancer Information.
Importance of Full Dose on Schedule
Studies show that for certain types of cancer, chemotherapy produces the
best long-term results when patients receive the full dose on time, every
time.
- You can eat the right foods to build up your strength.
- Stay away from people who have colds or the flu.
- Get the rest you need and pace yourself.
- Talk about your feelings to deal with any sadness, anger, or fear you
may have.
- Work as a team with your health care providers.
Knowing how to help yourself can make you feel more in control. These are
just a few of the ways that you can help yourself and begin to feel in control
again.
This information is designed to help you become an informed partner in
your care, but it is only a guide.
Self-help can never take the place of professional health care. Ask your
doctor and nurse any questions you may have about chemotherapy. Also
don't hesitate to tell them about any side effects you may have. They want
and need to know.
How Chemotherapy Works
Chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy can be administered through a vein, injected into a body
cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill, depending on which drug is
used.
Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells; unfortunately, it cannot tell
the difference between a cancer cell and some healthy cells.
So chemotherapy eliminates not only the fast-growing cancer cells but also
other fast-growing cells in your body, including, hair and blood cells.
Some cancer cells grow slowly while others grow rapidly.
As a result, different types of chemotherapy drugs target the growth
patterns of specific types of cancer cells.
Each drug has a different way of working and is effective at a specific time
in the life cycle of the cell it targets.
Your doctor will determine the chemotherapy drug that is right for you.
To understand more about the different ways chemotherapy is given, read
about how people receive chemotherapy.
Discussing the Effectiveness of Cancer Treatment
Understand the goals and risks of each treatment option so you can work
with your doctor to decide which treatment is best for you.
Balance potential benefits against the risks of treatment.
Some risks of cancer treatments may include time away from family and
friends, uncomfortable side effects, or long-term complications.
Cancer treatment may be inconvenient, prolonged, or unavailable close to
home. These are important considerations when evaluating treatment
options, but they are not typically mentioned in medical journals reporting
the results and benefits of new treatments.
Once you and your doctor have decided on a treatment plan, talk with your
doctor about all you can do to make sure you get the full dose of your
cancer treatment on schedule.
You can make note of subjects to discuss and questions to ask by using
Tools for Organizing Your Cancer Information.
Importance of Full Dose on Schedule
Studies show that for certain types of cancer, chemotherapy produces the
best long-term results when patients receive the full dose on time, every
time.
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on the subjects addressed. It is written with the understanding that the author(s) is (are) not engaged in rendering
medical, health, or any other kind of professional service(s). The reader should consult his or her medical, health or other
competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions. The author(s) specifically disclaim all responsibility for
any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and
application of any of the contents of this site.