What You Need To Know About Chemotherapy Treatment
Are you or someone in your family starting chemotherapy? Chemotherapy or simple chemo, as you likely already know, is a treatment of drugs that are used to kill cancer cells or at the very least, slow the progression of such cells. Some people have to constantly undergo these types of treatments and sometimes they don’t completely cure the condition. For instance, there are some individuals that have gone eight rounds or more of these treatments because cancer kept coming back or spreading. Most people automatically associate chemotherapy with something that is painful and miserable, but this isn’t necessarily always the case. While it might not be the most pleasant thing that you’ll ever experience, there is more to it than meets the eye. This is why it is imperative to familiarize yourself with the treatment and know as much as you possibly can about it.
Different Types Of Treatments
All chemo treatments are designed to do the same thing. They are designed to either kill cancer or slow the progression of such cells. However, that doesn’t mean that all treatments are administered in the same manner. There are different levels of treatments with different intensity levels. For instance, some individuals can undergo chemo at home by taking a pill once or twice daily. This is a type of treatment that is known as oral chemo. That aside, the way that you get chemotherapy may depend on the type of cancer you have, where the cancer is located in your body and the type of treatment that you need to cure cancer.
Eat Light And Stay Well-Hydrated
If you found yourself researching what is chemotherapy treatment then you might not know that it is imperative to eat light before an infusion. You’ll want to make sure that you are consuming something that is high in fibre, as chemo drugs tend to slow peristalsis (digestion and bowel processes). This means that the food you consume will be in your digestion for longer than usual and will eventually dry out. On top of this, the drugs that are used to combat nausea and vomiting will also be constipating. This is why proper hydration with a high-fibre snack will be necessary. The liquids and the high-fibre will help your body retain moisture in the bowels.
Feeling Uneasy Is Okay
On that first day of chemo, you are going to wake up feeling uneasy. You’ll likely feel a type of fear in your heart that you’ve never felt before. This is completely normal and is similar to that of the fear of the unknown. This is your first time and you don’t know what’s ahead. Make sure that you bring a book, journal, knitting, or something along with you to ease your mind while you are waiting on your treatments.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask What-If
You’d be surprised at all the secondary or underlying conditions that can cause serious damage. For instance, some people also have bleeding disorders, which can cause rate side effects when paired with certain types of cancers or cancer treatments. These conditions can cause slow leaks of blood from the small capillaries in the hands and feet, which will develop into major bleeding later on. Whatever the situation is, you always have to be willing to ask the what-if questions.
