Cancer treatment: You may not know these things about chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a general term and is used to denote any drug that kills or damages cancer cells, thereby providing better control over cancer. However, there are some common concerns people have about chemotherapy and understanding these points can help ease any anxiety you may have about the process.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Ashish Gupta, American board-certified medical oncologist and head of medical oncology at Unique Hospital Cancer Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi, shared, “Chemotherapy, a well-established cancer treatment, uses drugs to target and destroy fast-growing cells. Its versatility allows it to be used alone or in combination with other treatments, as part of a multidisciplinary approach to cancer therapy.”

Dr Amit Upadhyay, Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology at MASSH Hospital, New Delhi, said, “Chemotherapy is not a single drug but a group of more than 400 drugs. Although many chemotherapy drugs may have some side effects, now as new drugs are coming, the side effect profile is also improving and in fact many new drugs have minimal side effects and are very safe even for patients with liver or kidney disease.”

Dr. Ashish Gupta tells some things about chemotherapy that you may not know:

1. Chemotherapy is not painful, and many patients can live relatively normal lives during treatment. It is important to avoid close contact with sick individuals, as chemotherapy can weaken the immune system. Rest assured, no one else will get cancer or have any problems if you are receiving chemo, such as your spouse, grandchildren, or anyone else around you.
2. Age is not a barrier to receiving chemotherapy. Before starting treatment, your physical fitness will be evaluated, and the chemotherapy regimen will be adjusted to your individual needs.
3. Chemotherapy can be given in a variety of ways, including a common IV, PICC line, or chemo port, depending on the specific chemotherapy and your preferences.
4. Many people continue to work during chemotherapy. Most patients do not feel immediate side effects after their treatment; these effects usually begin a few days later. You may need to take a few days off work during this period, but many people find they can maintain their routine with some adjustments.

Dr. Amit Upadhyay said, “There are many ways to use the drugs and in different doses and schedules. Accordingly, the schedule, dose and side effect profile also varies according to the clinical condition. A lot of research is being done in cancer treatment nowadays and many new targeted agents and biotherapy molecules are coming up which are similar to or better than conventional chemotherapy. They can be taken for a long time. There are usually no restrictions on diet unless specifically stated, but all hygiene precautions must be strictly followed.”

He concluded, “It is not necessary that all chemotherapy patients lose hair, vomit or get mouth ulcers. In fact now with better premedication, these side effects are rarely seen. Also there are many chemotherapy drugs that do not cause hair loss. Some non-medical interventions like yoga, meditation, regular exercise, regular fruit and vegetable intake etc. have proven to be effective in reducing the side effects and reducing the chances of cancer coming back.”