Chemotherapy is a common drug treatment that uses powerful drugs to kill and destroy fast growing cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy is mostly used to treat cancer, since cancer cells rapidly grow and multiply faster than most cells in the body. Chemotherapy drugs can be given alone or combined with other treatments such as surgery and radiation therapy to treat cancer. There are different types of drugs used in the treatment of cancer.
When do you need chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in patients with cancer.
- Chemotherapy is used to treat cancer as the primary treatment without other treatments.
- Chemotherapy is used after surgery or radiation therapy to destroy any hidden cancer cells (adjuvant therapy)
- Chemotherapy is used to shrink tumors to prepare for other treatments like surgery or radiation therapy (neoadjuvant therapy)
- To ease and reduce the symptoms of cancer by killing some of the cancer cells (palliative chemotherapy)
Chemotherapy can also used for:
- Bone marrow disease: Bone marrow and blood cell disorders are often treated with bone marrow transplants. Chemotherapy is always given before to prepare for a bone marrow transplant.
- Immune system disorders: Lower doses of chemotherapy drugs are used to control and manage an overactive immune system in certain diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
How is chemotherapy given?
Chemotherapy drugs can given through various ways:
- Infusions: The drugs are given through an IV (intravenous) infusion into a vein.
- Pills: Some drugs are taken in the form of pills or capsules.
- Injections: Chemotherapy drugs can often be injected with a needle.
- Creams or gels: Creams or gels containing chemo drugs are applied to the skin for different types of cancer.
- Drugs used directly to a specific area: The drugs are directly given to one area, for example, the abdomen, chest cavity, bladder, or central nervous system.
Why choose Oncare for your chemotherapy treatments?
Oncare Cancer Center is a leading cancer hospital in India. Oncare is one of the best mid-sized cancer hospitals highly dedicated to delivering the best cancer treatment in India.
Affordable and transparent cancer treatments: At Oncare, we offer high-quality cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, at a low cost—up to 30 to 40% lower compared to other private cancer hospitals in India.
Experienced Oncologist team: We have an experienced oncologist team that offers personalized treatment plans for patients to provide the best treatment experience.
Safe and reliable treatments: At Oncare, our core values are trust and reliability. We prioritize our patient’s safety and deliver treatments to ensure safety, comfort, and confidence.
Timely consultation and on-time care: At Oncare, we offer timely consultations, care, and on-time attention, while in any government hospital, you may experience long waiting hours for consultations and delayed treatments.
Where do you receive chemotherapy treatments?
Chemotherapy treatments can be given:
- At a clinic or hospital
- In a doctor’s office
- At home if you are taking it in pill form
Your oncologist will decide the schedule based on your type of cancer, stage, and body’s recovery.
What’s to expect during the chemo session?
Your oncologist would choose the chemotherapy drugs you may receive based on several factors.
These may include:
- Type of cancer
- Stage of cancer
- Individual health conditions
- Previous cancer treatments
- Personal health goals and preferences
Discuss the treatment options with your doctor, and then choose the right treatment plan that suits your health condition.
Common Chemotherapy Protocols
Chemotherapy protocols in India follow international guidelines and are often adapted and designed according to specific cancer types.
Here are some common protocols used:
Breast Cancer
For breast cancer, mainly for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, a widely used regimen is docetaxel (Taxotere), carboplatin, and Trastuzumab (Herceptin) or TAC (Docetaxel, adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide), and additionally, another chemotherapy regimen is often AC followed by paclitaxel.
Lung Cancer
For lung cancer, specifically non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a widely used chemotherapy regimen is Cisplatin or Carboplatin combined with some common drugs like Paclitaxel, Gemcitabine, or Pemetrexed.
Colon Cancer
One of the common chemotherapy protocols for colon cancer includes FOLFOX (5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Irinotecan).
Lymphoma
For treating Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, one of the most commonly used chemotherapy regimens is the ABVD regimen (Adriyamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, and Dacarbazine). For non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the most commonly used regimens are CHOP (Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisone).
Ovarian Cancer
One of the commonly used chemotherapy regimens for ovarian cancer involves Carboplatin and Paclitaxel.
How to prepare yourself for chemotherapy?
Preparing for chemotherapy mainly depends on the type of drugs you are receiving and how they are delivered. Your oncologists might give some guidelines to prepare for the chemotherapy treatments that you may need to follow.
Before chemotherapy:
- Performing medical tests: Your oncologists might perform blood tests to check the functions of the liver and kidneys and, additionally, some other heart tests to check if your body is ready to undergo chemotherapy.
- Surgically inserting a device (If needed): If you are getting chemotherapy intravenously (IV) into a vein, you may need to insert a device such as a port or catheter. This device is often implanted in a large vein, usually in the chest, where chemotherapy drugs can be given through the device.
- Get your dental check-up: Your doctor might recommend getting dental checkups for your teeth to know any signs of infection. Treating any existing infections would reduce the risk of any complications during chemotherapy.
- Prepare for the side effects: Ask your doctors about any possible side effects to expect during and after chemotherapy to make proper arrangements. For example, getting chemotherapy can cause infertility, so you need to consider preserving sperm and eggs for future use. It can also cause hair loss, so consider getting a head covering.
- Arrange help for both home and work: Getting chemotherapy can affect patients' regular activities, so make arrangements for help with completing your daily chores and activities.
During chemotherapy:
- Pack a bag with essentials: Carry a bag with some essentials, including comfortable, loose clothes, a blanket, a book, small snacks, and a water bottle.
- Bring people for support and help: Talk to family and friends, and consider taking them with you for the first treatments. So, they can provide comfort and support during or after the treatments when you feel tired.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated to prevent dehydration. Dehydration can be a side effect of chemotherapy.
- Eat a light meal or snack: Eat a light meal or snack before chemotherapy in case the medications cause nausea and fatigue.
Post-care after chemotherapy
- Rest and recover to manage fatigue: Prioritize getting proper rest and enough sleep because after chemotherapy you may feel tired. Take enough rest and time to let your body recover after each session.
- Manage side effects: Ask your doctor about how to manage the side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, fatigue, and mouth sores. Consider some medication or lifestyle changes.
- Follow-up care: Attend regular follow-up appointments with your oncologist team to monitor the progress of treatments and check how the body is responding to the medicines. Doctors might perform several checkups and tests to check the progress.
- Support your immune system: Consider handwashing, avoiding raw and undercooked foods, and dust-free environments. Stop spending time in places such as public places and crowds. This would reduce the risk of infection and prevent any future complications.
- Follow light exercise and physical activity: Try to engage in light exercise and small physical activity, such as walking or yoga, to improve energy levels and elevate the mood.
How to track the progress of chemotherapy?
Your oncologist might recommend getting regular checkups to monitor the progress during the treatments. They might ask about any side effects of chemotherapy you are experiencing and adjust the treatments according to the progress made on the cancer. In some cases, they might adjust the doses of drugs according to how your cancer responds to them.
Side effects and risks of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy often causes different side effects in patients. However, the side effects of chemotherapy vary from patient to patient.
The most common side effects of chemotherapy may include:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Bruising and bleeding
- Mouth sores
- Skin changes
- Weakened immune system