What to Expect During Chemotherapy: A Guide for Cancer Patients

Types of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can be classified into the following types:

Adjuvant Chemotherapy

This is a type of Chemotherapy given after surgery or radiation to prevent cancer recurrence. Oncare Cancer Hospital provides efficient adjuvant chemotherapies to greatly reduce the possibility of cancer recurrence. Consult our leading medical professionals for more insights.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

This is a type of Chemotherapy given before surgery or radiation to shrink tumors. It considerably helps to improve the treatment outcomes.

Palliative Chemotherapy

Palliative Chemotherapy aims at relieving symptoms and improving quality of life, rather than curing cancer. Patients requiring extensive cancer care are ideal candidates for this type of chemotherapy.

Combination Chemotherapy

This type of cancer treatment utilizes multiple chemotherapy drugs and chemicals to target cancer cells. The combined treatment approach makes the treatment much more efficient and productive. Our leading cancer specialists and surgeons can provide you with the most productive combination of chemotherapies for cancer management utilizing the latest medical technologies. Choose Oncare for your cancer treatment and get the best services!

Targeted Chemotherapy

Although Chemotherapy is not a specific treatment, the targeted Chemotherapy functions to target specific molecules involved in cancer growth. It is a much more precise chemotherapy technique harnessed by the leading cancer doctors at Oncare Cancer Hospital.

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How is Chemotherapy Administered?

Chemotherapy can be administered in multiple settings like hospitals, infusion centers, cancer centers, and home care facilities. Here are some of the primary methods used for administering this treatment:

Intravenous (IV)

In this method, the patient is provided Chemotherapy through injection into their vein through an IV line.

Oral

In this method, Chemotherapy is taken by mouth in pill or liquid form.

Topical

In this administrative method, the patient is provided with chemotherapy directly to the skin through topical applications.

Intramuscular (IM)

In this technique, Chemotherapy is injected into the patient's muscle.

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Benefits of Chemotherapy

The major benefits of undergoing chemotherapy are:

Primary Benefits

The primary advantages of this procedure are:

• Increased Survival Rates

Chemotherapy comes with increased survival rates for patients diagnosed at early stages.

• Cancer Growth Control

Chemotherapy efficiently helps to kill the cancer cells and minimize the chances of cancer growth in the future.

• Improved Quality Of Life

Patients suffering from cancer have a higher possibility of living an enhanced quality of life after chemotherapy treatment. You can consult our leading cancer surgeons at Oncare for safe and effective chemotherapy.

Cancer-specific Benefits

The primary cancer-specific advantages of this treatment are:

• Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy helps with combating breast cancer and reducing the chances of recurrence.

• Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can be efficiently managed with chemotherapy. It increases the survival rates of the patient and alleviates symptoms.

• Leukaemia

This procedure can help combat blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

• Colorectal Cancer

Chemotherapy is best suited for reducing the symptoms of colorectal cancer and enhancing survival rates.

Benefits Over Other Treatments

The following are the benefits of chemotherapy over other procedures:

• Less Invasive

Chemotherapy, compared to other cancer treatments, is less invasive.

• Quick Relief

This procedure can efficiently provide quicker pain relief to cancer patients.

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A Comprehensive Expectation Guide for Chemotherapy

Here's a detailed guide for what cancer patients opting for chemotherapy can expect during the treatment course:

Preparation

The preparation guidelines include:

• Consultation

The first step involved in this procedure is consultation. So, patients will be required to consult with their trusted oncology healthcare team to discuss treatment goals, expectations, and potential side effects.

• Medical History Evaluation

In the next step, the healthcare team will cautiously review the medical history, current reports, and existing medications of the patient to come up with prominent and effective treatment approaches. Since chemotherapy can be personalized, evaluation of medical history will aid more.

• Diagnostic Procedures

Before treatment, the doctor will recommend necessary diagnostic procedures like blood tests, imaging tests, etc for better conception of your health condition. Oncare Cancer Hospital offers the best diagnostic procedures for cancer type and stage detection. We have the latest infrastructure and hence can assure you of the accuracy and integrity of our tests.

• Accommodations and Transportation Planning

This is a vital step to plan ahead. Plan for transportation, accommodations, and support during treatment. You can also check if your healthcare provider offers such services. Oncare Cancer Hospital provides patients with exclusive care along with accommodation and transportation facilities.

Treatment Administration

Here's what you need to know about treatment administration:

• Administration Type

Chemotherapy treatment is typically administered intravenously (IV), orally, or topically. Your doctor may recommend other methods if required.

• Treatment Duration

The average duration of chemotherapy varies between 30 minutes to several hours. It completely depends on the type, stage, severity of cancer, and the type of chemotherapy administered.

• Procedure Frequency

Chemotherapy can be administered daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly, depending on the procedure catered for the patient. Oncare Cancer Hospital offers the best Chemotherapy treatments with assured treatment and recovery plans. Visit us today for an enhanced treatment approach.

Emotional and Psychological Support

Patients might require the following emotional and psychological support facilities:

• Counseling or Therapy

Patients might suffer from unstable mental health and degraded self-esteem before, during, and after treatment. Therefore, counseling or Therapy might be very important to normalize their mental condition.

• Support groups

You can get help from cancer support groups for additional well-being, where you can meet other cancer patients and gain more fruitful insights into the basics of chemotherapy and life after this procedure.

• Family and friend support

Getting support from family, friends, and your loved ones is crucial during chemotherapy. It will help you stay strong and feel loved, and secure, and protect you from unsolicited thoughts of self-harm.

Post-Treatment Care

The post-treatment care includes:

• Blood Tests

After treatment, it is incredibly essential to check the blood count of the patient. So, you might be required to undergo regular blood tests that will signify the body's blood count and liver function.

• Imaging Tests

To monitor the treatment response, imaging tests are necessary. You will be required to undergo all the necessary imaging tests to assess accurate treatment response.

• Follow-up Appointments

Follow-up appointments with your oncologist are important and should not be compromised at all. It will help the healthcare team keep track of your progress and check for symptoms of recurrent cancer.

Lifestyle Considerations

The lifestyle changes to adopt after treatment are:

• Maintain a Healthy Diet

It is an essential criterion to be followed after chemotherapy treatment in India. Curate a healthy diet chart and avoid all sorts of spicy, hot food since it can lead to severe inflammation.

• Stay Hydrated

Hydration is the key to appropriate recovery. There is a high possibility of the body becoming dehydrated after treatment. So, our cancer specialists at Oncare Cancer Hospital suggest patients drink sufficient quantities of water every day after chemo treatments.

• Exercise Regularly

A bit of mild exercise after the treatment can be very beneficial in improving your mobility and quality of life. However, you should always consult your healthcare team before performing any sort of physical activity like exercise and yoga.

• Avoid smoking and Alcohol

Consuming alcohol or inhaling tobacco after treatment is hazardous to health. Our healthcare team strictly advises patients to completely refrain from smoking or drinking after chemotherapy for a secure living.

• Manage stress

Stress management is integral for healthy living after a chemotreatment. So, you will need to learn healthy stress management techniques like yoga and meditation.

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Final Words

If you experience a fever above 104.4°F, severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation after chemotherapy, immediately consult your healthcare team for the best prevention of side effects. Oncare Cancer Hospital provides comprehensive Chemotherapy treatments with 100% transparency. So, book your appointment with us today!