SERVICES
Chemotherapy
What is the cancer therapy called "Chemotherapy"?
Chemotherapy is a form of cancer therapy that relies on the use of potent chemicals to destroy and stunt tumour growth. Fortunately, chemotherapy can be used with other cancer treatments, such as surgical resection of the tumour and radiation therapy. There are various ways to deliver chemotherapy, but the most common way to administer the treatment is intravenous, which means the drugs can be delivered through the vein.
Chemotherapy can be used to treat several cancer types, such as the following:
- Primary-stage cancer means the cancer remains confined to a particular part of the body and hasn't travelled to other regions of the body.
- Metastatic cancer is a form of cancer that has already progressed to other bodily regions.
How do you administer chemotherapy?
Besides intravenous chemotherapy, cancer medications can be administered in the following ways:
- Chemotherapy can be delivered via an injection, also referred to as a Chemo shot.
- Chemotherapy can also be administered in pill or liquid form that is usually ingested.
- Topical chemotherapy can be applied in a lotion/cream form over the skin.
In certain cases, specific forms of cancer do not react well to systematic chemotherapy, in which case, chemotherapy can be administered to a particular region of the body such as follows:
- Intra-arterial chemotherapy is a type of treatment that involves administering chemotherapy to one artery, which is responsible for nourishing the tumour.
- Intra-cavitary chemotherapy entails introducing chemotherapy drugs through a specific body cavity, such as the stomach and bladder. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is one specific form of intra-cavitary chemotherapy that involves placing heated chemotherapy inside the abdomen after a surgical procedure.
- Intrathecal chemotherapy is a form of chemotherapy that is administered in the centre of the brain and spinal cord.
Intravenous chemotherapy is a widely administered form of cancer therapy that can be applied through the vein by the following means:
- A needle is placed in the arm.
- A slender, bendable tube (catheter) is connected to a vein in the chest.
- A tiny disc (port) is placed beneath the skin, and a catheter is connected to the port to administer chemotherapy.
- A pump is a medical device that connects to the port or catheter to regulate the amount of chemotherapy medications delivered.
What is the prognosis like?
Typical adverse effects from chemotherapy subside as soon as you discontinue treatment. Certain unfavourable effects that may develop can take months or years to show up. However, patients are provided with cancer rehabilitation to help manage the adverse effects of cancer treatment.
FAQ
The form of chemotherapy you receive depends on where the cancer is in the body, the extent (stage) of the cancer and your current health status.
The type of chemotherapy treatment delivered depends on the form of chemo administered. These types of chemotherapy can last several minutes or hours.
The following effects may present years later after the treatment:
- Early-stage menopause.
- Chemo-brain is a term that refers to cognitive decline.
- Heart issues that arise from cancer
- Nerve damage (neuropathy).
- Fertility