Chemotherapy: Understanding the Basics

There are many ways to give chemotherapy; as an IV where medication is put into he body using veins (usually in your arm), or as a catheter, or an IV that stays in a blood vessel in your chest, so a normal IV doesn’t have to stay stuck in your arm. More ways that chemo can be given are pills, capsules, or liquids, shots into the muscle and skin, or as an injection into an area below the spinal cord. Places to give chemotherapy are hospitals, cancer centers, doctor’s offices, and at home.Chemotherapy: Understanding the Basics

Many patients receive chemo in hospitals and clinics, while others may need to stay in a hospital so doctors can look over them. Chemo may be given at different times such as every day, every week, or every month. Between treatments the patient needs time to rest. Undergoing chemo might have uncomfortable side effects caused by the medications, the amount taken, and the general health of the patient. Most side effects don’t last long because the healthy cells multiply and side effects eventually go away.