Chemotherapy

What Is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a treatment that involves the usage of drugs and other powerful chemicals to destroy the cells that are growing very fast. By killing these dangerous cells, it is possible to cure the condition like cancer. Chemotherapy can be used for various purposes, but its useful effects in cancer are particularly noted. The method of chemotherapy involves the usage of drugs either alone or in combination with others. The main problem associated with chemotherapy treatment is the occurrence of the side effects. If the disadvantages are mild, then it is possible to proceed with the treatment plan. In case of severe complications with chemotherapy, it might make the condition even more severe.

What Are the Conditions That Can Be Treated by Chemotherapy?

In addition to cancer, the following conditions can be treated with support from chemotherapy.

• Immune System Disorders: When chemotherapy drugs are given at a lower dosage, it is possible to cure a few immune system-related disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

• Diseases of the Bone Marrow: In patients who are suffering from severe problems with bone marrow, the treatment option available for them is stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant. For these procedures, the help of chemotherapy is mandatory.

What Are the Goals of Chemotherapy?

The main aim of chemotherapy is to achieve the following.

• Cure: This is the main criteria for chemotherapy treatment. When a chemotherapy drug is used, it is necessary for the drug to give a complete cure. This means that the condition for which it has been given should be subsided completely without any path for recurrence. In most cases, chemotherapy drugs are successful in curing the condition, but there are problems associated with the recurrence.

• Control: If the first goal is impossible to achieve, then doctors must plan to at least control the ill effects of the condition. When a complete cure could not be achieved, then we might focus on restricting the spread of the condition to other vital organs. By doing so, the lifespan of the patient can be increased. For example, diabetes seems to be a never-ending health condition for some patients. We can restrict the severity of the disease by controlling the blood sugar levels.

• Palliation: In advanced stages, where both cure and control aspects could not be implemented, then the patient might go for a palliative method of goal. Here, the main focus is given to relieving the painful symptoms of the patient. The symptoms that are causing discomfort to a greater level are also relieved. For example, the chemotherapy drugs that are given for tumors might cause a shrinkage in the size of the tumor. This will reduce the intensity of the pain faced by the patient.

How Is the Patient Prepared for the Chemotherapy Treatment Method?

The patient will undergo a preparatory phase before going for the chemotherapy treatment. Variations are made in the preparation depending on the health condition and immune status of an individual. The following steps are followed:

• Insertion of the device with the help of surgical methods before chemotherapy treatment. If the patient is planning to get intravenous administration of chemotherapy, then the doctor will advise going for a particular device called a catheter, pump, or port. These devices are implanted surgically into a larger vein. This larger vein is usually found in the chest region. However, the insertion is not always required for delivering the chemotherapy.

• The patient has to undergo various treatments for which procedures and tests to check whether they are eligible physically and mentally to receive the treatment. The functioning of the liver and kidney is detected before the chemotherapy treatment. The patient is decided for the treatment plan based on the results of the tests and blood examination.

• The patient is educated about the possible side effects of chemotherapy treatment. This will help the patient to be prepared for the treatment. It is also essential to understand the mentality of the patient. Some patients might already be worried about their condition. In such situations, it is not advisable to discuss the side effects as they might get depressed more.

What Are the Ways of Administration of the Chemotherapy Agents?

The chemotherapy agents can be administered in the following ways.

• Chemotherapy pills. The drugs can be taken in the form of capsules and pills.

• Chemotherapy shots. The chemotherapeutic agent is given in the form of injection.

• Chemotherapy infusion. Chemotherapy infusion refers to the administration of drugs through the veins.

• Chemotherapy creams. The chemotherapy drugs can be applied to the skin with the help of gels and drugs. It is most importantly necessary to treat cancer of the skin.

What Are the Side Effects of Chemotherapy?

The common side effects involved in chemotherapy treatment are:

• Vomiting.

• Nausea.

• Hair loss.

• Diarrhea.

• Fatigue.

• Loss of appetite.

• Bleeding.

• Mouth sores.

• Fever.

• Pain.

• Easy bruising.

• Constipation.

• Alteration in sexual interest.

In some patients, the side effects caused by chemotherapy drugs are not evident for many months. After a long duration, the following symptoms are identified.

• Kidney problems.

• Infertility.

• Risk of second cancer.

• Heart problems.

• Peripheral neuropathy(nerve damage).

How Is the Dosage of Chemotherapy Decided?

The dosage is adjusted according to the following criteria.

• Older people.

• Poor nutrition.

• Obesity.

• Medications.

• People who are getting radiation therapy.

• Patients having poor blood cell counts.

• Liver and kidney diseases.

• Patients who are unable to tolerate the full doses.

The dosage of the chemotherapy drugs are adjusted according to the outcomes of the treatment.

Contact icliniq.com for more information.