How to Administer Cancer Chemo Drugs

According to the American Cancer Society, chemotherapy is a cancer treatment option that involves the application of hazardous chemicals into the body in order to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy medications primarily affect cancer cells, as cancer cells have a faster rate of metabolism than normal tissue, therefore absorbing proportionately more of the drugs. However, chemotherapy drugs also affect some healthy cells leading to side effects like fatigue, nausea and hair loss.

Instructions

Administering Chemotherapy

• 1

  Consult with your doctor to determine the ideal frequency of chemotherapy treatment for your particular case of cancer. Depending on the size, location, stage and aggressiveness of your tumor, you may require chemotherapy on a more or less frequent basis than other similar patients.

  Chemotherapy may be given on a continuous basis, or it may be offered in alternating blocks of treatment and recovery, offering your body time to rest between bouts of therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, chemotherapy can be given as frequently as every day or as infrequently as once a month.

• 2

  Consider at-home chemo if your doctor prescribes chemotherapy medication in pill or liquid form, and you feel that you are capable of receiving treatment without medical assistance. While these types of chemotherapy can be taken without a doctor's supervision, it is nevertheless important to follow the instructions for administering the treatment to the letter. When it comes to fighting off cancer, diligence wins the day.

• 3

  Consider receiving chemotherapy at your doctor's office where the application method is an injection. Receiving treatment at your doctor's place of business can avoid the delays associated with making a special trip to the hospital, saving time and possibly cutting the cost of treatment. While injectable chemotherapy treatments are not the most common form of therapy, take advantage of the opportunity if your doctor sees fit to recommend this.

• 4

  The most likely course of action for administering chemotherapy is application of an IV unit to inject the drugs directly into your veins. This form of treatment works for both targeted and systemic chemotherapy. Targeted chemotherapy involves injection of drugs directly into the veins leading to the affected area, minimizing the risk of systemic side effects. This is most often used where the cancer has yet to spread. Systemic chemotherapy is often used for cases of cancer that have spread, where a more large-scale attack on the cancer cells is required.