What are the problems of chemotherapy in cancer?

What are the problems of chemotherapy in cancer?

Chemotherapy can cause fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, bowel issues such as constipation or diarrhoea, hair loss, mouth sores, skin and nail problems. You may have trouble concentrating or remembering things. There can also be nerve and muscle effects and hearing changes. You will be at increased risk of infections.

What is chemotherapy in cancer treatment?

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body. Many different chemotherapy drugs are available.

What happens in a chemotherapy?

How does chemotherapy work? It targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancer cells do. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout your body. But it can also affect some fast-growing healthy cells, like those of the skin, hair, intestines, and bone marrow.

What is standard of care chemotherapy?

Traditional or standard chemotherapy uses drugs that are cytotoxic, meaning they can kill tumor cells. If your treatment plan includes traditional or standard chemotherapy, knowing how it works and what to expect can often help you prepare for treatment and make informed decisions about your care.

What is the limitation of chemotherapy?

The disadvantages of chemotherapy are the toxic side effects, the development of resistance to the chemical agents, and the need for other forms of treatment, in combination with chemotherapy, in order to cure the patient.

What happens if you choose not to have chemotherapy?

If you decide to stop chemotherapy, be sure you’re still getting relief from symptoms such as pain, constipation, and nausea. This is called palliative care, and it’s meant to improve your quality of life. Medications and other treatments, such as radiation, are part of palliative care.

What is chemotherapy PDF?

Chemotherapy is a type of treatment for cancer. It uses special drugs to kill cancer cells in the body. Some types of cancer can be treated with just chemotherapy. Sometimes chemotherapy is used with other treatments like radiotherapy and surgery. Page 4.

Who set the standards for the use of chemotherapy?

In 2008, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) invited a broad range of stakeholders to create a set of standards for the administration of chemotherapy to adult patients in the outpatient setting.

Is chemotherapy nonspecific?

Problem with chemotherapy is that it is nonspecific. Besides killing the cancer cell by apoptosis or other mechanisms, it also causes wide-spread damage to other tissues especially bone marrow leading to morbidity and even mortality.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using radiotherapy and chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy damages cancer cells while radiation therapy damages the DNA of the cancer cells, causing them to die. Chemotherapy generally causes more side effects than radiation therapy, such as hair loss, anemia, and severe nausea.

Can you say no chemo?

Can you refuse chemotherapy? Yes. Your doctor presents what he or she feels are the most appropriate treatment options for your specific cancer type and stage while also considering your overall health, but you have the right to make final decisions regarding your care.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy for cancer?

Chemotherapy not only kills fast-growing cancer cells, but also kills or slows the growth of healthy cells that grow and divide quickly. Examples are cells that line your mouth and intestines and those that cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects, such as mouth sores, nausea, and hair loss.

How are the doses of chemo determined for cancer patients?

For this reason, doctors must calculate chemo doses very precisely. Depending on the drug(s) to be given, there are different ways to determine chemo doses. Most chemo drugs are measured in milligrams (mg). The overall dose may be based on a person’s body weight in kilograms (1 kilogram is 2.2 pounds).

What are the main goals of chemotherapy treatment?

Goals of chemotherapy treatment 1 Cure. If possible, chemo is used to cure cancer, meaning that the cancer is destroyed – it goes away and doesn’t come back. 2 Control. If a cure is not possible, the goal of cancer treatment may be to control the disease. 3 Palliation. Chemo can also be used to ease symptoms caused by the cancer.

Do you have to have chemotherapy if you have cancer?

For some people, chemotherapy may be the only treatment you receive. But most often, you will have chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. The types of treatment that you need depends on the type of cancer you have, if it has spread and where, and if you have other health problems.

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