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Chemotherapy, It's What You Should

Tags: chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is one of the treatment procedures by using very strong chemicals to stop or inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the body. In addition to cancer, chemotherapy is also used for the treatment of bone marrow disease and impaired immune system, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Chemotherapy can be combined with treatment methods, such as hormone therapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Implementation of this procedure can be done at home by taking oral Chemotherapy drugs or through infusions conducted in hospitals with doctor supervision. This choice is determined by the type of cancer, stage, and health condition of the patient.

The timing of chemotherapy can usually last for several months divided into several sessions. This procedure is a systemic treatment that affects the entire body, so it can cause various side effects that patients feel after the therapy.

Indications of Chemotherapy

The implementation of chemotherapy becomes the main method of cancer treatment advocated by doctors as it aims to:
- Inhibits the spread of cancer.
- Cures cancer overall. Chemotherapy is also used after surgical procedures to kill cancer cells that are still left in the body.
- Improve the success of other methods of treatment, preoperative or chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy.
- Relieve symptoms suffered.

Chemotherapy Warning

The chemotherapy procedure is a treatment performed for serious conditions. Therefore, careful planning is required from the patient and the team of the executing physician. Planning is concerned with consideration of the type of chemotherapy to be run, side effects that will appear, as well as the success rate of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy planning may be performed after the patient undergoes a series of tests (eg blood tests, scans, or X-rays) to determine the patient's health condition, whether strong enough to undergo chemotherapy or not. Investigation of dental infections is also needed because dental infections are at risk of spread due to chemotherapy effects on the body.

After knowing the condition of the patient, the team of doctors can determine the type and duration of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is usually given in a matter of cycles, consisting of a period of chemotherapy plus rest periods. For example, chemotherapy for 1 week followed by a rest period of 3 weeks. The implementation of chemotherapy generally takes several months consisting of several cycles.

One thing to remember is chemotherapy is not recommended for pregnant women because it can cause the baby or fetus to become disabled. For those who will undergo chemotherapy, is expected to use contraception during chemotherapy to avoid pregnancy. The same warning is also given to patients taking other medications, including herbal remedies. The reaction of these drugs to chemotherapy drugs can not be predicted. Drugs usually given in chemotherapy include drugs that can block cell division (alkylating agent), a drug that can inhibit the formation of RNA and DNA (antimetabolit), as well as antitumor antibiotics that convert DNA in cancer cells.

Before Chemotherapy

Preparation before chemotherapy is done to anticipate the effects of post-therapy. Some people feel weak and tired after chemotherapy, therefore, you should ask someone else's help to accompany and accompany the time of pelaksaaan chemotherapy. In addition, patients need adequate rest time after chemotherapy. Therefore, assistance is needed in doing the work at home or taking care of the child, at least for one day after chemotherapy.

Although many chemotherapy patients may continue to work during this procedure, it is recommended that working hours be adjusted to physical conditions. Working hours arrangements that correspond to the lighter workload need to be done in order to anticipate the effects of post-chemotherapy. Talk and plan everything with your doctor, family. Or friends who can provide support during the therapy process.

Chemotherapy Procedure

Generally, chemotherapy in hospitals is given intravenously through infusion, although chemotherapy can also be done through oral tablets.

In the intravenous chemotherapy procedure, the drug is supplied from a bag of drug fluid connected to a tube into one of the veins. Drug fluid distribution can be done through a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) tube inserted inside the patient's arm vein for several weeks or months. The hoses are connected to a pump to regulate the amount of drug and drug delivery rate.

Similar to the PICC hose performance, chemotherapy drug delivery can also be performed with a tube inserted into the chest and connected to a central vein. In addition, drug delivery can also be performed through short-term, temporary cannula tubes placed in the vein on the back of the hand or forearm. Can also through implanted port, which is a small tool that is planted under the skin during the period of therapy. To distribute the drug liquid, a needle is inserted into the device by penetrating the skin.

In addition to intravenous, chemotherapy can be done through an artery around the location of the cancer (intra-arterial). As for cancer in organs such as intestine, stomach, liver, ovaries, chemotherapy is performed in the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal chemotherapy).

Chemotherapy can also be performed by injecting drugs, although this is rarely done. Some of these are through subcutaneous chemotherapy, intramuscular chemotherapy, or intrathecal chemotherapy. As for the case of skin cancer, chemotherapy is generally given in the form of cream.

After chemotherapy

After the implementation of chemotherapy, the patient's physical condition will always be monitored by a team of doctors to determine the level of success. Monitoring or monitoring can be a blood test and body scans regularly. In addition, doctors will also monitor how the side effects caused post-chemotherapy procedures. Thus, the team of doctors can make adjustments to the implementation of chemotherapy.

Side Effects Of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can have unpleasant effects on the body. In addition to killing cancer cells, chemotherapy can also damage other cells in the body, such as hair cells, skin, and inner lining of the digestive tract. But not all patients will experience side effects of chemotherapy. Some of the side effects that are usually experienced after the procedure are:
- Nausea.
- Gag.
- The body feels tired or weak.
- Hair loss.
- Infection.
- Anemia.
- Appetite reduced.
- Changes in skin and nails.
-  Fever.
-  Sprue or mouth sores.
- Constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Disturbance of concentration and memory.

There are also a number of side effects that are usually only felt after a few months or years after chemotherapy is lived. These side effects include secondary cancer risk, heart problems, lung tissue damage, renal impairment, and peripheral neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy).

Many post-chemotherapy side effects can be prevented and treated. Most of these side effects will disappear once chemotherapy is stopped. However, medical care is needed immediately if chemotherapy patients have the following conditions:
- Chest pain.
- Muscle ache.
- Gums and nose bleed.
- Thrush causing the patient can not eat or drink.
- Diarrhea is more than four times a day.
- Vomiting constantly.
- Bleeding from body parts that do not stop after trying to stop for 10 minutes.
- Shivering.
- Hard to breathe.

Source of original article: http://www.alodokter.com/kemoterapi-ini-yang-harus-anda-ketahui


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Chemotherapy, It's What You Should

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