Purpose of IV Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, also referred to as chemo, is a common cancer treatment that targets fast-growing cells, like cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be an effective treatment, but with it can come many unpleasant side effects.

Function

• Chemotherapy can be used to eliminate cancer, slow or stop its growth, or to reduce pain caused by large tumors.

Types

• Chemotherapy comes in many forms, including pills, liquids, creams, shots, and intravenous (IV) solutions. IV chemotherapy is most common; it can be given through an IV, a catheter or a port.

Catheters and Ports

• Catheters are thin tubes that connect to important veins in your body. Often in cancer treatment, these tubes may be inserted into a vein in the chest. They provide an easy way to give chemotherapy or draw blood, and usually last throughout treatment. Ports are small discs inserted underneath your skin for the duration of treatment that can also be used to give chemotherapy or draw blood.

Time Frame

• The schedule of chemotherapy depends on the type and stage of cancer, but chemotherapy is often given in cycles. For example, you may have one week of chemotherapy followed by three weeks of rest. The rest time allows your body to recuperate from chemotherapy's side effects.

Side Effects

• Since chemotherapy also kills fast-growing cells that are not cancerous, chemotherapy can also cause a number of side effects. Nausea, vomiting, sore mouth, dry skin, anemia and hair loss are common ones.