Meaning and Types of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment method, which uses, what are termed as “anticancer” drugs to help control and cure cancer (and certain non-cancerous symptoms too). Cancer is basically caused when there is an unrestrained growth of cells in the body. At present there are 200 kinds of cancer known to man that are treated using about 50 different types of cancer chemotherapy drugs following different treatment techniques.

Under normal conditions the cells of the body grow and die naturally, and a balance is thus maintained. However in case of a cancer patient, these cells start multiplying at a very fast rate. This is where the anticancer drugs come into picture, to help destroy this unnatural growth. When these drugs are allowed to run through the bloodstream, they can reach the cancer cells at an enormous speed.

While chemotherapy drugs are capable of destroying the cancer cells using various techniques, there are other cancer treatment drugs too, that aim at directly blocking the consequences of the body hormones. Biological therapies can also help boost one’s immune system, while affecting certain ‘substances’ in the body. These ‘substances’ are actually natural inputs of the body’s defense mechanism that are available for fighting diseases including cancer, but are present in small amounts. When such artificially made ‘substances’ (that resemble the natural ones in the body) are infused in the system, it makes the body capable of destroying the cells or controlling the effects of the tumor. If the therapy works, the cancer cells usually disappear forever. Nevertheless, a patient does run the risk of developing side effects and/or damaging some otherwise healthy parts of the body including the interior mouth linings, bone marrow (responsible for creating blood cells), the digestive system and hair follicles.

Chemotherapy is done on a regular-session basis, with each session being followed by a period of rest. While the session-period destroys the cells, the rest-period helps in recovering the normal tissues and cells.

The procedure of the treatment varies in accordance with issues like the kind of cancer to be treated, the effected body part and its intensity, the overall health and the effects of the disease.

The cycles in which the treatment is given to the patient depends on the cell growth and the drugs being used. The cycle may last for days or weeks, depending on the patient’s condition. The drugs are also chosen by the doctor after taking into account various obvious factors such as the nature of cancer, etc. Some chemotherapy examples are:

• Oral- Here treatment is done simply using pills. The patient swallows the pills that help in cancer treatment.
• Tropical- Useful for localized skin cancer patients, this method finds the doctor applying the drug onto the skin.
• Intravenous (IV) – Using a needles, here the doctor injects into the veins the drugs, which can spread rapidly in entire body.
• Injection- Here with the help of a needle, the drug is directly injected into one’s muscles or the cancerous area.

Some of the ways of introducing the chemotherapy drugs into the body are discussed here under:

• A central line- Here a central line, i.e. a thin tube, connecting the kin of the patient’s chest and the main vein just near the heart is used for injecting the medicines as and when required.
• A portable catheter-Here a slim tube is put into the patient’s arm, vein or chest, and the treatment follows.
• PICC line (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter line)-Here a thin tube is used for connecting the vein in the arm-crook and the vein right next to the heart. The line can then stay there in the same position for as long as few months.
• An infusion pump- This is attached to the PICC or the main line, for feeding chemotherapy doses in regular intervals of a few days. This is a good treatment option.

Unfortunately, in spite of its benefits, often a patient has to experience certain chemotherapy side effects too, that could be both long as well as short term symptoms. This is primarily due to the fact that chemotherapy destroys not only the cancer cells, but can also prevent normal growth of healthy cells in the body. Some of the most common symptoms include hair loss, infertility, feeling sick and vomiting, dryness in the mouth with a sense of taste change, tiredness, change in the hearing sense, getting more prone to developing infection, nausea, etc. In extreme cases it may even cause bleeding, or cause damage to the nerve, liver, lung, or even the patient’s heart.

Most of these are just temporary symptoms, and depend on the treatment method, the drugs or the drugs combination used, etc. In fact they generally tend to end right after the treatment stops. The doctor may even prescribe other medicines like the anti-emetics to control side effects such as causal sickness or weakness problems.

However the more severe and long term side effects such as organ and nerve damages might be more difficult to deal with. Theses also include side effects like hemorrhagic cystitis (blood in urine), the Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the Hodgkin’s disease, various kinds of tumors, etc.

Feelings of depression, anxiety, fear and certain odd physical sensations are not uncommon for a patient undergoing chemotherapy. It is thus always helpful for a patient to know what comes with the cancer treatment method, so that he or she maybe mentally prepared to face the challenge. One should not be afraid to ask questions like ‘what is chemotherapy made of?’, or ‘what is chemotherapy treatment?’ or ‘what is chemotherapy used for?’ etc. They should talk about their illness and should not hesitate if they need support, since it can actually help them feel mentally as well as physically stronger. The family and the close ones know that it is likely that the patient should find it tough to concentrate, listen or understand things after the treatment.

Following cancer chemotherapy one may feel listless and tired, and might easily run out of stamina too. Thus the daily activities should be carefully planned out in accordance with the energy required for it, giving first priority to the most important tasks. Taking adequate rest after the especially rigorous activities is good idea. If there is an important event coming up, energy should be conserved for it by not participating in the less important activities. It is in fact best that part time work be taken over, and household chores be avoided, or done with the help of family members.