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What to Expect From Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a medical treatment for cancer that involves the use of medications that target and destroy cancerous cells. While chemotherapy is effective at treating many types of cancer, it does pose a risk for side effects in some patients.

  1. Types

    • There are four main types of chemotherapy treatment: oral tablets or capsules, injections or shots, topical solutions or creams and intravenous infusions.

    Features of Intravenous Chemo

    • Normally during a chemotherapy treatment, an intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into your arm and a nurse will connect the line to a bag filled with the medicine for the treatment. Normally, you can sit up or lay down during your chemotherapy treatment, and some centers or hospitals have televisions for you to watch during the procedure.

    Time Frame

    • Intravenous chemotherapy treatments usually last from 30 minutes to several hours, according to National University Hospital, but oral, injectable and topical forms of chemotherapy require only a few minutes worth of time. How long you will require chemotherapy varies based upon the type of cancer you have, your general health and the stage of your cancer.

    Risks

    • Side effects of chemotherapy include loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, body pains, fevers and easy bruising, reports the National Cancer Institute. Risks associated with chemotherapy include infertility, developing a second cancer later in life and damage to your heart, kidneys, lungs or nerves, warns the Mayo Clinic.

    Considerations

    • During chemotherapy, be sure to get adequate rest and eat a balanced diet to help keep your body strong, suggests the American Cancer Society. Medications are available to help with vomiting and nausea as well as deficiencies in certain blood cells that develop during the course of treatment.

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