How You Get Chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy comes in many different forms, doses, and routes of administration
- Some chemotherapy comes in the form of pills taken orally
- Many chemotherapy drugs are given through an intravenous (IV) infusion, inserted into the arm or wrist
- For IV chemotherapy, a portacath may be implanted under the skin and reused each time you get chemo
- Another way to administer chemotherapy is through an intraperitoneal port, which places the medicine directly into the abdomen
Whether you receive chemo before or after surgery–or both–depends on how advanced your cancer is, and whether the doctor believes surgery might be easier to perform once your cancer is smaller and more manageable. Additionally during the COVID-19 pandemic neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a good option to delay the risks of surgery and potential exposure to the coronavirus.
Read More- A platinum-based drug like carboplatin (Paraplatin) or cisplatin
- A taxane, such as paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere)
How You Get Chemo
Typically, you'll get chemotherapy through an intravenous infusion, (an IV), placed into your arm or wrist. This might be the image you think of when you think about chemotherapy.
Most people get an infusion once every three weeks. Each of those three weeks is considered one cycle. It's common to get six cycles of chemotherapy. Sometimes all six are given after surgery, and sometimes three are given before surgery and three more aftewards. In either case you'll have breaks in between each cycle to minimize or manage side effects and to give your body a chance to recover.
Another option is to get the medicine through a portacath, or port — a small device inserted under your skin (often under the collarbone). As with an IV in your arm, the portacath delivers the medicine directly into your blood vessels which then circulate it throughout your body.
The advantage to having a port is that you won’t need to be “stuck” each time you need a cycle of chemotherapy. On the other hand, drugs delivered by portacath may cause more severe side effects than drugs given through a regular IV. This is one of the main reasons why a portacath may not be the best solution for everyone with ovarian cancer.
Another option is an intraperitoneal port. This is similar to the portacath that goes under your skin, except that in this case, the catheter empties into your abdomen.
Oral chemotherapy is just that medication you swallow in liquid or pill form instead of getting it through an IV or portacath. "A common misconception is that oral chemotherapy isn't as strong as IV chemotherapy," says Dr. EINaggar. "That's not the case."
Your oncologist will decide which type of chemotherapy is best for you by considering your health, plus each drug's benefits and risks.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer
No matter which type of chemotherapy you get, you're likely to have some side effects. Chemotherapy drugs attack quickly-dividing cells, which include cancer cells, but also many types of normal cells. Healthy cells that divide rapidly, including hair and immune cells, are at greatest risk for damage.
Chemotherapy side effects can include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- GI issues including diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite or change in taste
- Mouth sores
- Neuropathy – a numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Your doctor can use a variety of strategies to help you manage these and other side effects. The number or timing of chemotherapy cycles you receive may be reduced, for instance, or you may receive a lower dose of the drugs. There are also an array of medications to attempt to offset some of the more unpleasant side effects (particularly nausea and fatigue).
Make sure to keep your oncologist in the loop about how you feel during chemotherapy treatment. The doctor may be able to adjust your treatment plan or offer other remedies to make the experience more comfortable for you.
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