FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about “Chemotherapy”
What can chemotherapy do for you?
Depending on the type of stage chemotherapy can be used for different goals;
1. Cure Cancer
2. Control Cancer
3. Relieve symptoms
Can Chemotherapy be used with other treatments?
Yes. Chemotherapy can be used alone or with other treatments like surgery, radiation therapy or other medicines, e.g. biological therapy or targeted therapy.
What are factors affecting choice of chemotherapy drugs?
1. Type of cancer & Complete pathology report
2. Stage
3. Effect of cancer on your normal body functions
4. Any previous illness e.g. diabetes, heart disease
Where will I get chemotherapy?
Hospital’s outpatient department, doctor’s clinic or hospital.
How is Chemotherapy given?
Most are given Intravenously. Some can be given by mouth.
How frequently will I get chemotherapy?
Depending on the type and stage of the cancer. Usually given for 1 to 2 days every 1-3 weeks. There is a cycle, where there is a treatment period and then a rest period (necessary for building up healthy cells).
How will I know if my chemotherapy is working?
By the opinion and advice of your doctor based on your responses, blood tests, sonographies, CT scans and other tests. Side effects are no indication of the result.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Side effects depend on the drug used. Today with our methods, 90% of patients are able to complete treatment without getting admitted to hospital even once. Hair loss which is most worrisome to patients, is temporary and does not happen with many new medicines. Same is true for other side effects.
What are NonChemotherapy Medicines?
Several medicines used to treat cancer are not chemotherapy. Many of them are new. Some of them are also known as TARGETED Therapies. Some of them are taken by mouth, some by intravenous route. Most of them are better tolerated. They are used in treatment of several cancers such as breast, mouth and throat, lung, intestine, leukemia, lymphoma.
Is operation always required?
Operation was the first step in treatment of most cancers in the past. Now many cancers can be treated without operation, or are treated with medicines first to reduce extent of surgery. Some examples are breast, mouth and throat, esophagus or food-pipe, cervix, lung, rectum, bone.
Depending on the type of stage chemotherapy can be used for different goals;
1. Cure Cancer
2. Control Cancer
3. Relieve symptoms
Can Chemotherapy be used with other treatments?
Yes. Chemotherapy can be used alone or with other treatments like surgery, radiation therapy or other medicines, e.g. biological therapy or targeted therapy.
What are factors affecting choice of chemotherapy drugs?
1. Type of cancer & Complete pathology report
2. Stage
3. Effect of cancer on your normal body functions
4. Any previous illness e.g. diabetes, heart disease
Where will I get chemotherapy?
Hospital’s outpatient department, doctor’s clinic or hospital.
How is Chemotherapy given?
Most are given Intravenously. Some can be given by mouth.
How frequently will I get chemotherapy?
Depending on the type and stage of the cancer. Usually given for 1 to 2 days every 1-3 weeks. There is a cycle, where there is a treatment period and then a rest period (necessary for building up healthy cells).
How will I know if my chemotherapy is working?
By the opinion and advice of your doctor based on your responses, blood tests, sonographies, CT scans and other tests. Side effects are no indication of the result.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Side effects depend on the drug used. Today with our methods, 90% of patients are able to complete treatment without getting admitted to hospital even once. Hair loss which is most worrisome to patients, is temporary and does not happen with many new medicines. Same is true for other side effects.
What are NonChemotherapy Medicines?
Several medicines used to treat cancer are not chemotherapy. Many of them are new. Some of them are also known as TARGETED Therapies. Some of them are taken by mouth, some by intravenous route. Most of them are better tolerated. They are used in treatment of several cancers such as breast, mouth and throat, lung, intestine, leukemia, lymphoma.
Is operation always required?
Operation was the first step in treatment of most cancers in the past. Now many cancers can be treated without operation, or are treated with medicines first to reduce extent of surgery. Some examples are breast, mouth and throat, esophagus or food-pipe, cervix, lung, rectum, bone.
Drugs for Targetted treatment are very costly i heard, how true is this and what's happening on the cutting edge of cancer research.
ReplyDelete