Chemotherapy
Cancer treatment plan
Chemotherapy (also known as chemical drug therapy) is a traditional cancer treatment method with a long history. It was first used in the 1940s to treat leukemia and lymphoma. The mechanism of chemotherapy involves directly causing DNA damage to cancer cells, preventing cancer cell division, or combating the nutrients necessary for DNA synthesis (such as folic acid). The characteristic of cancer chemotherapy is its ability to induce rapid death and regression of tumor cells, making it suitable for fast-growing tumors. For inquiries about chemotherapy costs, including the price of each treatment session and cancer chemotherapy drugs, please contact reVIVE in Hong Kong.
The drugs used in chemotherapy employ different methods to stop tumor cell division, thereby halting cancer cell growth or causing cell death. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to destroy tumor cells. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy can sometimes kill more tumor cells.
What types of cancer are suitable for chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is used for many different types of cancer, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma and sarcoma, as well as mammary cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer.
Chemotherapy methods & procedures
Common treatment methods include:
- Intravenous Injection
- Oral Administration
- Other ways of injection, including: intramuscular, subcutaneous, intralesional, intra-arterial
Before starting chemotherapy, the doctor will arrange a meeting with the patient to explain the entire chemotherapy process, the benefits and side effects of the medications, and will also collect blood and urine samples for testing. Once the tests are satisfactory, the patient or their family must sign a "Chemotherapy Consent Form" to indicate their agreement to undergo chemotherapy, after which the doctor will schedule the treatment.
During the treatment process, the doctor will prescribe medications and dosages based on the individual patient's condition and constitution. The patient or their family only needs to collect the medications from the pharmacy. Before and after chemotherapy, the nursing staff will measure blood pressure, pulse, and blood oxygen levels as reference indicators.
The side effects of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy cannot distinguish between cancer cells and normal cells, so during the treatment process, it can also damage normal cells, leading to various side effects.
Common side effects include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Weakened Immune System
- Constipation and Diarrhoea
- Itchy and Flaky Skin
- Fluctuating Hearing Loss
During chemotherapy, patients need to have regular blood tests to monitor their body's response to the medication. If the blood test results are not satisfactory, chemotherapy will be halted until the cells in the blood return to normal before continuing the treatment. The doctor will also prescribe appropriate medications as needed to alleviate discomfort caused by chemotherapy.
The higher the dosage of chemotherapy, the greater the effectiveness and side effects. Possible side effects include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- White Blood Cells Deficiency
- Oral Ulcers
- Hair Loss
- Nerve and Muscle Paralysis
- Development of New Cancer
- Brain Damage
- Loss of Fertility
- Teratogenesis
