Joe Arringtion Cancer Center

JACC
4101 22nd Place
Lubbock, Texas 79410

phone: 806-725-8000
fax: 806-723-6412

General Information:
info@joearrington.org

Understanding Chemotherapy

Download Chemotherapy Video.

Chemotherapy is the use of medications to treat cancer. Depending on the type of cancer and its stage, the four main goals of chemotherapy are: to cure cancer, to keep cancer from spreading, to slow the growth of cancer, and to relieve cancer symptoms.

Chemotherapy helps destroy cancer cells by preventing them from growing and multiplying. It may be used along with radiation therapy, surgery or both. More than one chemotherapy drug may be given at a time because some drugs work better together than alone. Your doctor will recommend the medications and dosage schedule appropriate for you. The decision depends on the kind of cancer you have, whether or not it has spread (metastasized) from its original site, the extent of its growth and your general health.

How Chemotherapy Is Given
Chemotherapy can be given in different ways. Some common methods include intravenous, oral, intramuscular and intrathecal.

The intravenous route (IV) is a very common way to put medicine directly into a vein. A small needle is inserted into one of the veins in the lower arm. Some discomfort may be felt during insertion of the needle into the skin. The chemotherapy flows through the needle and plastic tube (catheter) into the bloodstream. Sometimes a syringe is used to “push” the chemotherapy through the tubing. This is called an IV push medication. When you receive chemotherapy through an IV, it is very important to tell your nurse right away if there is any redness, burning or discomfort in the IV area.

A more permanent type of catheter may be recommended to avoid repeated painful needle sticks into the vein. These permanent catheters are called central venous catheters or implanted ports. Central venous catheters are surgically inserted into one of the large central veins in the chest and stay in place until the therapy is completed. Chemotherapy, blood and IV fluids can be given through this catheter and blood for lab tests can be drawn from this site. The tube will be capped and covered by a dressing, and your nurse will teach you how to care for the catheter to avoid infection.

An implanted port is round in shape and usually surgically inserted under the skin surface on the chest wall between the neck and shoulder. To use the port, the nurse will insert a needle through the top skin surface to access the port. Chemotherapy, blood and IV fluids can be given through this port and blood can be drawn from the port. Home care is usually required only at initial insertion. Other chemotherapy delivery methods include:

Oral: includes pills, capsules, or liquid taken by mouth.
Intramuscular: an injection into the muscle.
Intrathecal: Certain types of cancer have a tendency to spread to the central nervous system.

To prevent this, doctors may inject a chemotherapy medication into the spinal fluid through a spinal tap.

Treatment Length and Frequency
You may be treated in your doctor’s office, in a clinic or in the hospital. Somestimes, treatment may take place in your home with oral medication or via an implanted pump. Your dosage schedule may last from a few weeks to a year, with varying cycle frequency (once a week, once a month or other intervals).

Take reading materials and/or a radio/cassette/CD player (and headphones) to help pass the time while you are receiving treatment at the doctor’s office or as an outpatient at the hospital. Treatments are followed by rest cycles to give your body time to build healthy new cells and regain strength.

Your doctor may provide a list of instructions for care between chemotherapy cycles. Follow them carefully and stay focused on having a good outcome from treatment.

Common Questions

Will I become nauseated from chemotherapy?
Some, but not all, chemotherapy agents may cause nausea and vomiting if you do not take any preventive measures. Your healthcare team knows which agents are likely to cause nausea and vomiting, and you may be prescribed additional anti-nausea medications to take before, during, or after a chemotherapy treatment to help minimize this side effect.

Will I lose my hair with chemotherapy?
Some treatments may cause loss of hair while you are taking them, not only on your head, but also on other areas of your body. Generally your hair will grow back after treatment. Your doctor knows which treatments are likely to cause hair loss.

Why do I have to take chemotherapy over multiple courses?
Chemotherapy is usually delivered systemically, so that both your healthy and cancerous tissues are exposed to the drug. Chemotherapy can be used this way because cancer cells are more vulnerable to treatment than healthy cells. However, your body’s healthy tissues need time to recover their strength. Typically, you will receive an initial course of treatment, which will let the doctor know if the agent is effective against your cancer. Then you will receive additional courses as necessary, depending on your overall health.

Medical Oncology \| Radiation Oncology \| Lymphedema/Edema Center \| Patient & Community Services \| Hematology \| Genetic & FCP Program \| Pharmacy \| Preventative Oncology \| Pediatric Oncology \| Research \| ACBC \| Cancer Registry \| Tumor Boards		JACC 4101 22nd Place Lubbock, Texas 79410 phone: 806-725-8000 fax: 806-723-6412 General Information: info@joearrington.org
Understanding Chemotherapy
Download Chemotherapy Video. Chemotherapy is the use of medications to treat cancer. Depending on the type of cancer and its stage, the four main goals of chemotherapy are: to cure cancer, to keep cancer from spreading, to slow the growth of cancer, and to relieve cancer symptoms. Chemotherapy helps destroy cancer cells by preventing them from growing and multiplying. It may be used along with radiation therapy, surgery or both. More than one chemotherapy drug may be given at a time because some drugs work better together than alone. Your doctor will recommend the medications and dosage schedule appropriate for you. The decision depends on the kind of cancer you have, whether or not it has spread (metastasized) from its original site, the extent of its growth and your general health. How Chemotherapy Is Given Chemotherapy can be given in different ways. Some common methods include intravenous, oral, intramuscular and intrathecal. The intravenous route (IV) is a very common way to put medicine directly into a vein. A small needle is inserted into one of the veins in the lower arm. Some discomfort may be felt during insertion of the needle into the skin. The chemotherapy flows through the needle and plastic tube (catheter) into the bloodstream. Sometimes a syringe is used to “push” the chemotherapy through the tubing. This is called an IV push medication. When you receive chemotherapy through an IV, it is very important to tell your nurse right away if there is any redness, burning or discomfort in the IV area. A more permanent type of catheter may be recommended to avoid repeated painful needle sticks into the vein. These permanent catheters are called central venous catheters or implanted ports. Central venous catheters are surgically inserted into one of the large central veins in the chest and stay in place until the therapy is completed. Chemotherapy, blood and IV fluids can be given through this catheter and blood for lab tests can be drawn from this site. The tube will be capped and covered by a dressing, and your nurse will teach you how to care for the catheter to avoid infection. An implanted port is round in shape and usually surgically inserted under the skin surface on the chest wall between the neck and shoulder. To use the port, the nurse will insert a needle through the top skin surface to access the port. Chemotherapy, blood and IV fluids can be given through this port and blood can be drawn from the port. Home care is usually required only at initial insertion. Other chemotherapy delivery methods include: Oral: includes pills, capsules, or liquid taken by mouth. Intramuscular: an injection into the muscle. Intrathecal: Certain types of cancer have a tendency to spread to the central nervous system. To prevent this, doctors may inject a chemotherapy medication into the spinal fluid through a spinal tap. Treatment Length and Frequency You may be treated in your doctor’s office, in a clinic or in the hospital. Somestimes, treatment may take place in your home with oral medication or via an implanted pump. Your dosage schedule may last from a few weeks to a year, with varying cycle frequency (once a week, once a month or other intervals). Take reading materials and/or a radio/cassette/CD player (and headphones) to help pass the time while you are receiving treatment at the doctor’s office or as an outpatient at the hospital. Treatments are followed by rest cycles to give your body time to build healthy new cells and regain strength. Your doctor may provide a list of instructions for care between chemotherapy cycles. Follow them carefully and stay focused on having a good outcome from treatment.
Common Questions
Will I become nauseated from chemotherapy? Some, but not all, chemotherapy agents may cause nausea and vomiting if you do not take any preventive measures. Your healthcare team knows which agents are likely to cause nausea and vomiting, and you may be prescribed additional anti-nausea medications to take before, during, or after a chemotherapy treatment to help minimize this side effect. Will I lose my hair with chemotherapy? Some treatments may cause loss of hair while you are taking them, not only on your head, but also on other areas of your body. Generally your hair will grow back after treatment. Your doctor knows which treatments are likely to cause hair loss. Why do I have to take chemotherapy over multiple courses? Chemotherapy is usually delivered systemically, so that both your healthy and cancerous tissues are exposed to the drug. Chemotherapy can be used this way because cancer cells are more vulnerable to treatment than healthy cells. However, your body’s healthy tissues need time to recover their strength. Typically, you will receive an initial course of treatment, which will let the doctor know if the agent is effective against your cancer. Then you will receive additional courses as necessary, depending on your overall health.