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Chemotherapy

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a method to treat various kinds of cancer, by targeting cancer cells throughout the body of those diagnosed with cancer. Chemotherapy is used to try to cure cancer, as well as to control the growth of cancer or in some cases, to ease the symptoms of painful tumours.

Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with other treatment methods to enhance the effectivity. It may be used to shrink a tumour before continuing with other treatments options such as radiation therapy or surgery or to destroy remaining cancer cells after other treatments have been done. Otherwise, chemotherapy is usually used for those with returning cancer or spreading (metastasised) cancer cells.

This kind of treatment can be used to fight cancer, prevent cancer cells from spreading or to alleviate the side effects of cancer, prolong and enhance the quality of life.

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy is designed to prevent or stop the growth of abnormal cancer cells. Sadly, chemotherapy does attack healthy cells in the process as well, which can cause uncomfortable side effects like hair loss, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Dr Ford takes a holistic approach to cancer treatment, and therefore in many cases, chemotherapy is combined with other treatments such as surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy treatment is usually done in the hospital by her experienced team. It can be administered in the following number of ways:

• Admission to the hospital, with a conventional infusion by Dr Ford. Chemotherapy is administered through a port or line, which is a small metal chamber that is implanted under the skin through to the vein. Accessed by a needle through the port, your infusion can take place.
• Orally – chemotherapy can be taken by mouth in the form of a capsule or pill. Intravenously – continuous infusion chemotherapy may be given thru an IV tube into the vein in your arm, by lines (peripherally inserted central catheter) or by ports.
• Through home infusion– through an infusion device attached to your intravenous catheter or port, continuous infusion chemotherapy can be given while at home with the help of a nurse.
• Intracavitary – chemotherapy is paced into the body, exactly where the cancer is located.
• Intra-arterial (IA) chemotherapy – this kind of chemotherapy is given directly into an artery to be absorbed.

You may need to receive chemotherapy in cycles, with periods of rest in between to allow normal cells to recover when harmed in the process. How much chemotherapy and how often you will be scheduled for treatment will depend on the type and stager of cancer you have been diagnosed with. Dr Ford will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your treatment and prioritise your comfort at all stages of your journey.

What can be done about the side effects?

Although chemotherapy can cause side effects such as pain, hair loss, nausea, vomiting and fatigue, these side effects can be counteracted and lessened with the use of medications to make your cancer battle less painful and comfortable.

Whether or not cure is possible, Dr Ford takes care in using chemotherapy as a treatment to alleviating the painful and uncomfortable side effects of cancer in order to enhance the quality of life while battling cancer and striving to shrink tumours.