Welcome To Chemohelp
Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy is made up of two words "Chemo" and "Therapy". Chemo means use of chemicals and therapy means treatment. Chemotherapy is a way of treating cancer by using chemicals which kills cancerous cells. Cancer is the disease which is characterized by out-of-control cell growth. These damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors which interfere with the digestive,nervous and circulatory systems. Chemotherapy is a systematic treatment of cancer, in which drug enters through the blood stream ,travels throughout the body and destroys the cancerous cells. Chemotherapeutic drugs are chemically designed to target the cancer cells. Cancer can affect all age groups and Patients of any age can be treated with chemotherapy. For chemotherapy, patients can visit hospital or to a doctor but sometimes patients has to stay in hospital for the treatment. Patients may experience some side effects of chemotherapy such as hair loss , fatigue etc but side effects usually disappears at the end of treatment.
Types of Chemotherapy:
The majority of chemotherapeutic drugs can be divided into:
- Alkylating agents.
- Antimetabolites
- Anthracyclines
- Plant alkaloids
- Topoisomerase inhibitors
- and other antitumour agents.
These drugs affect the cell divison or synthesis of DNA. But some newer agents do not directly interfere with DNA, like monoclonal antibodies and new tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
How chemotherapy is given:Chemotherapy is often given in cycles followed by recovery period. This allows the cancer cells to be attacked at their most vulnerable times and healthy cells to recover. Firstly the Clinical Test are done before the specific chemo drug being given to the patients. During the test doctors determine how chemo drugs are absorbed by the body of patient and how it works. Chemo drugs can be given, orally(by mouth), by Subcutaneous injection,through intra-muscular chemo injections or as Intravenous chemo treatments etc.
Drugs given in Chemotherapy:
Majority of chemotherapeutic drugs can be divided in to alkylating agents, antimetabolites, anthracyclines, plant alkaloids, topoisomerase inhibitors, and other antitumour agents. All these drugs affects the cell divison or synthesis of DNA. But some newer agents do not directly interfere with DNA like monoclonal antibodies and new tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy:
The side effects from chemotherapy depends upon the type and dose of drug which again depends upon the type of cancer. you may get the treatment every day, evey week or every month. It is very good for the patient to start chemotherapy from the very first cancer sign or symptoms. Chemo help can be administered to minimize side effects.
Precautions during the chemotherapy:
Taking precautions during the chemotherapy is very important because the drugs given in it are very strong and can also harm the healthy cells of those people who are in contact with the patient. Some precautions to be followed are - using different bathroom or flushing properly after use, using paper towels and disposing them etc.
Cancer signs/ Symptoms of cancer:
Generally seen symptoms in a cancer patient are:
- Persistant Fatigue: It is the most common symptom and usually more common when the cancer is in advance stage.
- Sytemic symptoms: weight loss, poor appetite, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia etc.
- Pain : It is not early symptom of cancer except in some specific types.
- Swelling: Thickening or lump in breast or any other part or gland of the body.
- Unusual healing or discharge of fluid from the body.
- Unusual cough.