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Chemotherapy Treatment
Chemotherapy (also known as systemic therapy) is the use of drugs to treat cancer.
A normal cell is the smallest working part of your body. Each cell does a specific
job. All cells grow, take in nourishment, have periods of rest and divide to make
new cells. Cancer cells develop in these same stages; however, they are disorganized
and do not follow a normal pattern of growth.
The goal of chemotherapy is to affect cancer cells as they take in nourishment or when
they are dividing. The drugs prevent the division of cancer cells or try to stop the
cancer cells from growing.
Chemotherapy is given in several ways. The pill form is taken by mouth. Some chemotherapy
drugs may be occasionally given by needle into your arm or leg muscles (intramuscularly) while
many drugs are given into your veins (intravenously). Your chemotherapy Doctor (medical
oncologist) may recommend a combination of drugs that may be taken in a variety of ways.
The type of cancer you have and where it is located will determine what drugs you take and
how you take them.
Chemotherapy treatments are usually repeated in “cycles” or courses over a period of weeks
and/or months in order to affect as many cancer cells as possible.
Your Chemotherapy Treatment
Once you and your Doctor have decided on a course of chemotherapy, your appointment will be
booked. The oncology Pharmacist and Nurse will talk to you about the drugs and their side
effects and make suggestions on how to manage any side effects.
Each chemotherapy visit usually begins with a blood test to see if your blood counts are
acceptable so that you can safely receive your chemotherapy treatment. This blood test
may be done at the Cancer Centre on the same day you receive your treatment or may be done
the day before you receive your treatment. Sometimes, it is possible to arrange your blood
sample to be taken at home, a day or two before you come to the Centre, by a visiting nurse
or you can go to a Blood Lab such as MDS close to your home. The results are then sent to
the Cancer Centre and you will be called if your treatment needs to be delayed.
The length of time for a chemotherapy treatment to be given depends on the drugs being used
and can vary from one hour to six hours. If you are also receiving radiation therapy, this
will increase the length of time that you will be at the Centre.
Your treatment appointments will be booked in advance. Each time you are at the Centre, a
receptionist scheduler will give you an appointment for your next visit.
It is important to us that we are able to answer any of your concerns and make you feel as
comfortable as possible. We can also arrange for visiting nurses, a social worker, a dietician
or other help needed at home during or after your course of treatment.
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