Chemotherapy: What happens?
Cancer care Guildford. Cancer care Woking.
What will happen when I have Chemotherapy? Here’s a quick introduction.
Before chemotherapy begins, you’ll have some tests to check your general health and make sure the treatment is suitable for you. The tests you’ll have may include blood tests to check things such as how well your liver and kidneys are working, and how many blood cells you have then X-rays and scans to check the size of your cancer.
Then Before treatment starts, your care team will make a plan that outlines the type of chemotherapy you’ll have, how many sessions you’ll need and how often you’ll need treatment – after each treatment you’ll have a break before the next session, to allow your body to recover.
So how is chemotherapy is given? In most cases, chemotherapy is given directly into a vein. The time it takes to get a dose of intravenous chemotherapy can range from a few minutes or to several hours. You usually go into hospital for the treatment and go home when it’s finished.
Chemo can also be given in tablet form. You’ll need to go into hospital at the start of each treatment session to get the tablets and have a check-up, but you can usually take the medicine at home.
Less commonly, chemotherapy may be given as: injections under the skin, injections into a muscle, injections into the spine, or even as a skin cream.
Sadly, Chemotherapy can cause unpleasant side effects. These include tiredness, nausea, hair loss, bruising and bleeding, Anaemia, Infections, sore mouth, loss of appetite, skin and nail changes, memory and concentration problems and Diarrhoea and constipation.
Remember, Caremark Guildford and Woking, your healthcare team and many charities are on hand to advise and support you, you are not alone so please reach out for help and support.
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