Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is any treatment involving the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Cancer chemotherapy may consist of single drugs or combinations of drugs, and can be administered through a vein, injected into a body cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill. Chemotherapy is different from surgery or radiation therapy in that the cancer-fighting drugs circulate in the blood to parts of the body where the cancer may have spread and can kill or eliminate cancers cells at sites great distances from the original cancer. As a result, chemotherapy is considered a systemic treatment.

More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer receive chemotherapy.  For millions of people who have cancers that respond well to chemotherapy, this approach helps treat their cancer effectively, enabling them to enjoy full, productive lives. Furthermore, many side effects once associated with chemotherapy are now easily prevented or controlled, allowing many people to work, travel, and participate in many of their other normal activities while receiving chemotherapy.

Being informed about chemotherapy and its potential side effects can help you to proactively manage your own care and optimize your treatment and outcome.

Your doctor will determine the course of treatment and type of chemotherapy drug(s) that will be used.  Treatments vary in how many you will receive and the duration of each treatment.  When you begin your treatments our nursing staff and business office staff will meet with you for an hour of education so you understand what to expect.  Your treatment may last any where from one hour up to 6 hours per treatment.  Please plan your treatment days so you have plenty of time to complete your treatment without being rushed.  If you can not make your scheduled appointment please call us so we may reschedule you.

You will receive your treatments in our Infusion rooms with other patients.  We have TV’s for each of our chairs and plenty of fluids to drink while you are undergoing treatment.  Please do not wear perfume or bring in foods that have strong smells.  Many patients can not tolerate strong smells while on chemotherapy.  We limit our patients to two visitors at the chair side at any one time.  Space is limited and our nursing staff needs plenty of room to administer your IV treatment.  We also do not allow animals in our facilities.