Most cancers have treatment protocols that set out which drugs to have, how much and how often. You can find information about protocols for chemotherapy at eviQ Cancer Treatments Online. Your specialist may need to tailor the protocols to your individual situation.
Learn more about:
- Overview
- The treatment course
- Complementary therapies and chemotherapy
- Making treatment decisions
- What to expect when having chemotherapy
- Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy
- Other ways of having chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy with other treatments
- Waiting for chemotherapy
- Is the treatment working?
Overview
You may have treatment with one chemotherapy drug or a combination of 2 or more. The chemotherapy drugs given, the dose and the treatment schedule (how often you have the drugs) will be recorded in a treatment plan. You will have tests throughout treatment to monitor your response, and your treatment plan may be adjusted based on the results and any side effects.
The treatment course
How often and for how long you have chemotherapy is known as a treatment course. This will be determined by the type of cancer you have, the reason for having treatment, the drugs used and whether you have any side effects.
Chemotherapy is commonly given as a period of treatment followed by a break. This is called a cycle. For example, you may have treatment on days 1, 2 and 3, then a break until day 28. Then a new cycle will begin. The length of the cycle depends on the chemotherapy drugs being given. The break between cycles lets your body recover. If you need more time to regain strength, the specialist may decide to delay your next cycle. If you have any concerns about changes to your treatment or any delays, talk to your specialist.
Complementary therapies and chemotherapy
Complementary therapies are sometimes used with conventional medical treatments. They may offer physical, emotional and spiritual support, help manage side effects, and improve quality of life.
Some therapies have been proven to be safe and effective in scientific studies. For example, meditation, relaxation, massage and counselling can reduce anxiety, and acupuncture has been shown to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Some studies suggest acupuncture may also reduce fatigue. It is important to talk to your doctors about any complementary therapies you are using or thinking about trying, as some can interfere with your treatment or make any side effects worse.
Complementary therapies are different to alternative therapies, which are used instead of conventional medical treatments.
Alternative therapies are unlikely to be scientifically tested and may prevent successful treatment of the cancer. Cancer Council does not recommend the use of alternative therapies.
For more on this see Complementary therapies.
If you smoke, try to quit or cut down before chemotherapy starts as smoking may affect how well the treatment works and make side effects worse. Quitting can be difficult, especially if you’re feeling anxious about the cancer diagnosis and treatment. For support and advice, talk to your doctor, call the Quitline on 13 7848, visit iCanQuit or download the My QuitBuddy app.
Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Prof Timothy Price, Medical Oncologist, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, SA; Graham Borgas, Consumer: Dr Joanna Dewar, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Professor, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and The University of Western Australia, WA; Justin Hargreaves, Medical Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Bendigo Health Cancer Centre, VIC; Angela Kritikos, Senior Oncology Dietitian, Dietetic Department, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Dr Kate Mahon, Director of Medical Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Georgie Pearson, Consumer; Chris Rivett, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Marissa Ryan, Acting Consultant Pharmacist (Cancer Services), Pharmacy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD.
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