If you have been diagnosed with cancer, your doctors may recommend that you have chemotherapy. This is a common cancer treatment, but people often have a number of questions about it. The answers below provide some general information.
Your health care team can give you more details about your particular treatment.
Learn more about:
- How is chemotherapy given?
- Why does chemotherapy cause side effects?
- Does chemotherapy hurt?
- How much does chemotherapy cost?
- Can I have chemotherapy if I’m pregnant?
- How long will chemotherapy treatment take?
- Where will I have chemotherapy?
- How do I prepare for chemotherapy?
- Who will be in my health care team?
How is chemotherapy given?
Chemotherapy is usually given into a vein. This is called intravenous or IV chemotherapy. It is sometimes given in other ways, such as tablets you swallow (oral chemotherapy), a cream you apply to the skin, or injections into different parts of the body. The choice depends on the type of cancer being treated and the chemotherapy drugs being used. Your treatment team will decide the most appropriate way to give you the drugs.
For more on this, see Having chemotherapy.
Why does chemotherapy cause side effects?
Chemotherapy damages cells that divide rapidly, such as cancer cells. However, some normal cells – such as blood cells, hair follicles and cells inside the mouth, bowel and reproductive organs – also divide rapidly.
When these normal cells are damaged, side effects may occur. Some people have few or mild side effects, while others may feel more unwell. As the body constantly makes new cells, most side effects are temporary.
The drugs used for chemotherapy are constantly being improved to give you the best possible results and cause fewer side effects.
Many people worry about the side effects of chemotherapy but these can usually be prevented or controlled. See Managing chemotherapy side effects for more information and talk to your treatment team for tips on dealing with side effects.
Does chemotherapy hurt?
Having a needle inserted for intravenous chemotherapy may feel like having blood taken. At first, it may be uncomfortable to have the temporary tube (cannula) put into your hand or arm, but it can then be used for the rest of the chemotherapy session. If you have something more permanent, such as a central venous access device or CVAD, it shouldn’t be painful.
You may have a cool feeling as the chemotherapy drug goes into the vein, through either a cannula or a CVAD. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause inflamed veins (phlebitis), which may be sore for a few days. It is important to let your treatment team know if this happens to you because there may be ways to reduce this discomfort or pain.
How much does chemotherapy cost?
Chemotherapy drugs can be expensive. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) covers all or part of the cost of many chemotherapy drugs for people with a current Medicare card.
You usually have to pay some of the cost of oral chemotherapy drugs you take at home. This cost is known as a co-payment.
You may have to contribute to the cost of some intravenous chemotherapy drugs. This depends on which state or territory you live in, whether you have treatment in hospital (inpatient) or visit the hospital or treatment centre for treatment and then go home (outpatient), or are treated in a private or public hospital.
You may have to cover the cost of some medicines yourself. Remember to keep copies of your receipts if you are getting prescriptions filled at different pharmacies, or ask your pharmacy to collate your prescription receipts. Once you have spent a certain amount on medicines in a year, you can get a PBS Safety Net card, making prescription medicines cheaper for the rest of the year.
You have a right to know whether you will have to pay for treatment and drugs and, if so, what the costs will be. This is called informed financial consent. You can ask for a written estimate that shows what you will have to pay, if you don’t receive one.
For more on this, see Cancer care and your rights.
Can I have chemotherapy if I’m pregnant?
Being diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy is rare – it is estimated that 1 in every 1000 pregnant women are affected.
Having chemotherapy in the first trimester (12 weeks) may increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects, but there seems to be a lower risk in the later stages of pregnancy. Chemotherapy drugs may also cause premature delivery, and preterm babies often have other health issues, such as respiratory problems.
If you are already pregnant, it may be possible to have some types of chemotherapy. It’s best to discuss the potential risks and benefits with your oncologist or haematologist before treatment begins.
If you have chemotherapy during pregnancy, you will probably be advised to stop at least 3–4 weeks before your delivery date. This is because the side effects of chemotherapy on your blood cells increase your risk of bleeding or getting an infection during the birth. Talk to your doctor about your specific situation and what is best for your health and your unborn baby.
In some cases, chemotherapy can be delayed until after the baby’s birth. The treatment recommended will be based on the type of cancer you have, its stage, other treatment options and protecting your developing baby.
You will be advised not to breastfeed during chemotherapy as drugs can pass through breastmilk and may harm the baby. For more on this see, Cancer and pregnancy.
How long will chemotherapy treatment take?
How often and for how long you have chemotherapy depends on the type of cancer you have, the reason for having treatment, the drugs that are used and whether you have any side effects.
Chemotherapy before or after surgery is often given for 6 months, but sometimes longer. Maintenance chemotherapy (to prevent the cancer coming back) and palliative treatment (to control the cancer or relieve symptoms) may continue for many months or years.
If you feel upset or anxious about how long chemotherapy is taking or any of the side effects, let your treatment team know.
Where will I have chemotherapy?
Most people have chemotherapy as an outpatient during day visits to a hospital or treatment centre. In some cases, an overnight or longer hospital stay may be needed. People who use a portable pump or have oral chemotherapy can usually have their treatment at home. Sometimes a visiting nurse can give you chemotherapy intravenously or by injection in your home.
If you need to travel a long way for chemotherapy, you may be eligible for financial assistance to help cover the cost of travel or accommodation. Your local Cancer Council may also provide transport and accommodation services. Call Cancer Council 13 11 20 to find out if there is a transport to treatment service or accommodation service in your area and how to access a patient travel assistance scheme (PATS).
→ READ MORE: How do I prepare for chemotherapy?
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A/Prof Kate Mahon, Director of Medical Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Katherine Bell, Dietetics Department, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Brigitta Leben, Dietetics Department, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Sophie Michele, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Jess Smith, Medical Oncologist, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Karene Stewart, Consumer; Julie Teraci, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Skin Cancer and Melanoma, Cancer Network WA.
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