Chemotherapy or chemo called known as a cancer treatment. Chemotherapy has a range of benefits in the fight against cancer cells. However, this method of treatment also has the side effect of not a few.
Chemotherapy may be given during an inpatient in a hospital or clinic as part of outpatient treatment, although chemotherapy can also be done at home. But the process of chemotherapy treatment must remain supervised by physicians and nurses to observe possible side effects or the existence of a decision it needs replacement with drugs.
Combating the harmful cells
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that is used to destroy cancer cells that are harmful to the body. The way it works is to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells grow and divide quickly. Depending on the type of cancer and has already reached the stadium, chemotherapy can be useful for:
- Relieve the symptoms. Chemotherapy can minimize the tumor resulting in pain.
- Controlling. Chemotherapy may prevent the spread, slowing growth, while simultaneously destroying cancer cells that develop into other parts of the body.
- Heal. Chemotherapy can destroy all the cancer cells to perfect and it prevents the development of cancer in the body longer.
It's just that chemotherapy can also affect healthy cells that normally divide rapidly, for example around the mouth, intestines, as well as the hair. Damage to healthy cells that can result in side effects. But generally will soon disappear after chemotherapy treatment is completed.
When Done Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is sometimes performed as the sole efforts of healing of cancer. However, chemotherapy is often done together with the Act of surgery, radiation therapy for cancer, or other biological therapies. Chemotherapy is generally made at the time:
- Before surgery or radiation therapy, so that the size of the tumor became smaller.
- After surgery or radiation therapy, to destroy cancer cells that are left.
- When do radiation therapy and biological therapy, for memaksimalisasi effect.
- Preventing the return of cancer cell growth or spread on other parts of the body.
How the treatment of chemotherapy is done depends on the type of cancer suffered, consists of:
- Topical. Used over a cream applied topically on the skin.
- Oral. Chemotherapy in the form of a pill, capsule, or liquid drink.
- Syringe. Given via an injection in the muscle or fat layer e.g. arm or stomach.
- Intraperitoneal (IP). Chemotherapy given directly into the abdominal cavity which contained the intestines, liver, and stomach in it.
- Intra-artery (he). Chemotherapy directly inserted into the arteries that distributes blood to the cancer.
- Intravenous (IV). Chemotherapy directly inserted into the venous blood vessels.
Possibility Of Side Effects
Chemotherapy is an effective cancer treatment. Proven to have saved millions of lives. But chemotherapy has side effects that are not small.
It is difficult to predict how heavy a person will experience side effects from chemotherapy because each person has different reactions towards the treatment.
The side effects of chemotherapy drugs does not appear because it has the ability to differentiate rapidly growing cancer cells with healthy cells that normally also has a rapid development. For example, blood cells, skin cells, and the cells in the stomach so that the chemotherapy had a negative effect. Here are the symptoms of a side effect that can occur due to chemotherapy:
- Hair loss.
- Loss of appetite.
- Shortness of breath and heart rate not uncommon due to anemia.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Nosebleeds.
- Dry skin and feels stung
- Easy bruising.
- Bleeding gums.
- It's hard to sleep.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- A sense of tired and weak all day.
- Constipation or diarrhea.
An important note, the side effects of chemotherapy will be lost soon after treatment is completed.
In addition, the effects of the chemotherapy will not give rise to a result which is harmful to health. Although in some cases, the side effects of chemotherapy can be more serious than others. For example the level of white blood cells decreases rapidly so that it can increase the risk of infection. As far as possible avoid yourself from people who are sick or exposed to infection during chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy for cancer of the blood cells or bone marrow is the most at risk to infection because of the type of cancer has led to a reduced number of white blood cells. If you experience symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting, difficult breathing, chest pain or bleeding, soon encountered the doctor.
Things to note
Most of the treatment process of chemotherapy given to patients without a stay at the hospital. Although the each person has a different reaction after chemotherapy, but most feel fatigued and tired. Avoid driving your own vehicle or activities that require high concentration or energy after a session of chemotherapy. Invite your family members or friends to accompany You home after chemotherapy.
Many people are still able to work during her chemotherapy, depending on the type of work and the resilience of the body of each. However, if possible, you can work from home or part-time. Talking about the possibilities in your workplace or take a leave of absence.
Especially for those of you with young children at home, prepare and plan help at home before undergoing chemotherapy.
During chemotherapy treatments, you should always consult a doctor when taking any other medications, including a drug allergy, herbaceous, pain relief, and more. Avoid consumption of liquor at least during chemotherapy.
Treating dangerous diseases such as cancer is not easy, including while undergoing chemotherapy sessions. As far as possible follow the doctor's orders and avoid things that can interfere with risk treatment process running optimally.