Find the cost of Chemotherapy

How is chemotherapy administered to patients?

• Oral
  Capsules, pills, tablets or liquids
• Intravenous
  Administered directly into the bloodstream through a vein using an IV
• InjectionI
  Injected into a major vein through a cannula/central line or through a drip, a bag containing the drugs that will enter your bloodstream at a fixed drip rate
• Intraperitoneal
  Injected directly into the peritoneal cavity in the abdomen, which carries the liver, stomach and intestines
• Intra-arterial
  Dispensed directly in the artery having direct blood flow to the cancerous area in the body
• Topical
  Can be applied as a cream, directly on the surface of skin

Why do you need chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is prescribed as the primary mode of treatment for the following diseases or conditions:

• • Cancer
  • Bone marrow diseases
  • Immune system disorders
    
    

When do you need chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is often used in the following conditions:

• • For shrinkage of the cancer before surgery or radiotherapy
  • To stop cancer from relapsing after surgery or radiotherapy
  • To treat cancer that has spread aggressively to other parts of the body
  • To control the symptoms of cancer, improve quality of life of patients with advanced cancer
  • As a standalone treatment in the case of bone marrow disorders and immune system disorders
    
    

What are the risks involved with undergoing chemotherapy?

Temporary side-effects:

• • Nausea, 
  • Vomiting
  • Hair loss
  • Headaches 
  • Weakness

Long-term risks:

• • Damage to vital organs like heart, kidneys, liver, etc.
  • Risk of developing a second cancer
  • Fertility problems
  • Damage to body’s healthy cells that get targeted along with cancer cells

How do you prepare to undergo chemotherapy?

• • Undergoing blood tests and scans to make sure that the body is able to cope with the side-effects of the treatment. 
  • A blood count test to make sure that blood count is normal - if not, chemotherapy will be delayed. 
  • Blood tests to check the functioning capacity of kidneys and liver as most chemotherapy drugs will be deposited in these organs. 
  • Scans are recommended to choose the best form of treatment.

From the patient’s end:

• • Undergo counselling before the onset of treatment if they are anxious
  • Eat foods that can be easily digested
  • Arrange for help from friends and family, as they will need it more than ever
  • Be prepared to face any side effects

What does recovery entail?

• • Tracking the medical progress regularly
  • Reviewing the effectiveness of the treatment with regular scans and blood tests.
  • Make sure to avoid contracting infections as the body’s immunity is compromised during treatment
  • Get adequate rest
  • Meditate and engage in light activity so that blood flow is maintained as this is crucial for recovery