Chemotherapy is treatment for cancer in which drugs are used to eradicate cancer. With chemotherapy, extended life span, better quality life can be achieved by shrinking or removing tumor. However, chemotherapy treatment is associated with some side effects.

Chemotherapy treatment is administered in cycles. Each cycle have rest period which allow patient to recover from side effect that are associated with treatment. No of cycles, duration, drugs, drugs amount given for the chemotherapy treatment is depends on type and stage of your cancer.

Also, the treatment plan has been developed and redefined in term of cycle, drug or doses to get maximum benefits. Such modification in your treatment plan is made only by your doctor. You should not miss any chemotherapy dose during treatment. During and after your chemotherapy treatment, try to keep yourself as active as possible. You should do some moderate exercises such as walking, swimming on daily basis to keep you fit.

Chemotherapy treatment is associated with some side effects as drugs used in the treatment also affect other healthy body cell along with cancerous cell. Side effects that are associated with chemotherapy treatment include hair follicles, nausea, sickness, vomiting, blood clotting, fatigue, diminished appetite, digestive tract and many more. Recovery period during treatment allows these healthy cells to recover and repair themselves.

Each time when you visit your doctor, make list of your question. Ask all questions that are in your mind related your cancer, chemotherapy treatment and its possible side effects. Note down the points on paper. If you don?t understand some point, ask your doctor to repeat it. When you visit your doctor, you should always accompany with your close friend or family member.

Chemotherapy drugs targets rapidly growing cancerous cell and damage them so that they can not grow or spread. Mostly chemotherapy treatment is applied at clinic or hospitals? out patient department. Sometimes chemotherapy treatment is also carried out at home or office. It depends on type of drug, your insurance, your and doctor?s wish. Mostly, it is carried out at hospital OPD so that treatment can be monitored easily.

Chemotherapy drugs are administered through vein, injection, orally or applied on skin. Mostly chemotherapy drugs are administered intravenously through a vein. It can also be administered through catheters, ports and pumps. Some chemotherapy drugs are in the form of pill, capsule or liquid form which can be taken orally. Another way of application of chemotherapy dug is through injection. In this method, drugs are administered using needle or syringe in different ways. Some drugs are applied directly on the surface of skin.

Some medicine or drugs other than chemotherapy drugs if taken during treatment may interfere with chemotherapy drug to affect effect of treatment. You should consult with doctor before taking any such type of medicine such as vitamins, laxatives and other pain relievers.

You have to give some physical exams and test to see whether chemotherapy treatment is working for you or not. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor about test result and your response to chemotherapy treatment.

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The most common form of treatment for many different types of cancer is chemotherapy – a process in which patients are administered drugs (usually intravenously) that target and kill cancerous cells. While improvements of medicine are being developed every day, it still has significant downsides for many patients. One of the most common complaints is severe nausea and vomiting.

This side effect is not only unpleasant. It can also make it very difficult for patients to eat and keep their food down. The resulting dehydration and malnutrition can significantly weaken people just when they need their strength to fight their illnesses. In addition, they can lead to health complications of their own, including heart problems and a weakened immune system.

Managing nausea is among the top goals of most complementary therapies – treatments that people undergo to manage the symptoms of their illnesses and the side effects of their medications. The good news is that many different approaches have been developed to help people cope with this painful, dangerous, and sometimes embarrassing problem.

Tips to Try

You may not always feel like eating, but maintaining good nutrition is a vital part of health. Some techniques that may help you get the nutrients you need include:

Drink plenty of liquids. They will not only provide the hydration you need, but can help settle your stomach. Ginger ale and sports drinks are often named as particularly helpful drinks – if you have a sore throat, try letting the ginger ale go flat before drinking it.

Experiment to find an eating schedule that works for you. It may be easier to eat a series of snacks or small meals throughout the day, instead of the usual three big meals. In addition, you may find it easier to eat at certain times of day, or find certain foods more tolerable at different times.

If your doctor says it is okay, try herbal remedies. Teas or supplements made from ginger, peppermint, cinnamon, or chamomile can be helpful according to many patients. Some people also recommend aromatherapy using oils or candles made from lavender, basil, roses, or sandalwood.

Talk to your doctor about medications that can help. Anti-emetics, or drugs that prevent vomiting, have been very useful for some people. Your doctor can provide important information about their uses, potential side effects, and interactions with other drugs before you decide whether to take them. If you use an over-the-counter remedy, be sure to let your doctor know.

Even when you are feeling very badly, do not give up hope. You can work together with your doctor and caregivers to find the right solution for you.

Nausea is only one of the challenges faced by mesothelioma patients. To learn more about coping with this illness, contact the Asbestos Resource Center
Joseph Devine Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine
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Chemotherapy, one of the methods for cancer treatment, is performed by subjecting the anti-cancer drugs into the bloodstream and killing all the cancer cells in the body. It could be used both ways, in sense, before performing the surgery as well as after performing the surgery. In the first case, it is used to reduce the size of the tumors and the latter is to kill the cancer cells that remain even after the surgery is performed.

Chemotherapy method started to emerge from the year 1940, initially nitrogen mustards and folic acids were employed. Now-a-days modern version of chemotherapy is performed but the limitations and the principles which are used in the older days remain unchanged.

The first solid cell tumor called choriocarcenoma, in the year 958, was cured by the chemotherapy treatment using a drug called mehotrexate, by the National Cancer Institute, shortly known as NCI.

The combination therapy was started in the year 1965. James Holland and Emil Freireich formulated the cancer chemotherapy should follow the strategy of combination of drugs. The combination should vary for different cancers.

Gianni Bonadonna of Italy proved that adjuvant chemotherapy cures the breast cancer to more extent, even when the cancer cells spread out to the other parts.

As the chemotherapy not only cured the cancer, but also brought up some side effects in most of the cases. So it was necessary to use a supportive therapy in the form of antibiotics.

Alkylating agents, anti-metabolits, anthracyclines, antitumor antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, platinums, or plant alkaloids, are the chemotherapy treatment methods.

Anand prabhakar is an author living in India. He is an expert in what is chemotherapy and you can learn a lot about it from his website history of chemotherapy
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It is well known that chemotherapy is one of the methods to cure cancer. It is mainly used in circumstances in which a cancer has spread from where it has originated. This method makes use of drugs injected into the body either orally (by mouth) or by injection. The drugs once injected into the body traverses through the bloodstream and the cancer cells present in all parts of the body.

As there are some advantages while employing the chemotherapy technique, some unexpected drawbacks are provided with too. Of the drawbacks most significant are weight loss and depression. Maximum percentage of people who undergo this treatment will experience these two factors. Even some patients may not be able to smell things after the chemotherapy treatment.

The above mentioned two factors result as when chemotherapy is performed; it not only destroys the cancer cells but also some healthy cells in addition to it. This leads to weight loss and depression. There are also special drugs available for the eliminating the risk of weight loss and depression.

The patient can opt for chemotherapy or not depending upon his age and health conditions. There is also an alternative treatment available for cancer treatment. Some herbal treatments are available without side effects to cure the cancer.

To check out the chemo weight loss, the patient has to check the weight for every week. If the weight seems to be reduced below 5 pounds in a week, then surely the patient has to consult a doctor.

To check out chemo depression, if the patient notifies, change in mood, inability to enjoy life, feeling guilty.

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This Makeup Tutorial for cancer patients going through Chemotherapy.

If you’ve had cancer and chemo, you know that’s NOT what you look like! Your hair thins, often not fallling completely out. You lose your eyebrows and eyelashes – often you don’t even recognize yourself when you look in the mirror!! It can be very discouraging and you don’t want to go out in public.

It doesn’t have to be that way. With just a little effort, you can put your face together and feel more comfortable going out in public and not feeling like a freakshow. You just have to rediscover makeup again! Let this video be your inspiration.

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