Other Treatments
Chemotherapy
CHEMOTHERAPY
Anyone facing chemo should put aside the notion that it's hell-on-earth. We all know that it can be pretty rugged and the word itself, chemo, strikes fear into the heart of most of us, but it's "not your father's chemo". Newer drugs and ways of managing side-effects make it much more bearable than it used to be.
"Chemotherapy and You" will help you become an informed partner in your care. Remember, though, it is only a guide. Self-help is never a substitute for professional medical care. Be sure to ask your doctor and nurse any questions about chemotherapy, and tell them about any side effects you may have.
National Cancer Institute - Chemotherapy and You: Tale care of Yourself http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/chemotherapy-and-you
For those of you dealing with chemo, the following are some other excellent Internet sources that you might find useful:
CANCER.GOV: CLINICAL TRIALS
You may go here to check out the types of clinical trials either in progress or planned and to check your eligibility. Locations are listed. http://www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials
There are essentially four kinds of clinical trials in cancer research, and each one serves a specific purpose. Find out how clinical trials are conducted, where they are being conducted, who is eligible to participate in them, and the latest results from ongoing trials.
CHEMOTHERAPY DRUG LIST
http://www.tirgan.com/chemolst.htm
Which drugs are used in chemotherapy depends on what cancer is treated. The information here is a list of older and newer drugs, plus some new drugs that are alternatives to chemotherapy. You can find information on the drugs' use and potential side effects.
ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY
http://www.cancerguide.org/adjuvant.html
Adjuvant chemotherapy is the use of drugs as additional treatment for patients with cancers that are thought to have spread beyond their original sites. Written so the average person can grasp the concept, this page also has some charts that might help with a better understanding of this approach.
CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy agents can be divided into three main categories based on how they attempt to slow and halt the growth and spread of a neoplasm. That is why they are also called "antineoplastic agents."
ONCOLOGY CHANNEL: CHEMOTHERAPY
http://www.oncologychannel.com/chemotherapy
Since chemotherapy treatments can wreak havoc on the body, it makes sense that there are treatments to deal with the side effects. Here you can learn more about the various options that are available.
UNDERSTANDING CHEMOTHERAPY
http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/info/chemotherapy.htm
A concise overview of chemotherapy and all that goes with it, this site will be helpful to those who want to find information on many topics in one location. The site covers the United Kingdom but has resources that will be of help to anyone researching this subject.
CANCERLINKSUSA
http://www.thecancer.info/chemo
You'll find links to numerous chemotherapy sites, plus a selection of articles on specific topics including side effects and complications. A message board has questions and answers that might relate to something you'd like to know.
RINSES
For Patients Receiving Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy. See suggestions under radiation.
From Our Members
PORT-A-CATH® Implantable Venous Access Systems
I am doing chemo now with a Portacathe. I had one installed before my first cancer surgery (colon cancer) for the pre-op chemo and used it again for post-op chemo. Then it was removed.
Five years later I had a metastatic cancer and again with the portacathe and chemo. Now this year another met and a new port and chemo. If they stay in you they have to be flushed every month or so and we always hope this time will be the last and I wont need it anymore anyway.
I get the initial infusion at the oncologist and go home with a fanny pack of chemo that drips in, this time for 42 hours and then go back and they unplug and flush. The first time around I wore the pack steadily for weeks, as I remember, so either they have improved the protocol or each time is different. It saves hours of sitting there with the arm infusion and this is definitely the way to go if you can.
Removing it is even easier than installing it. A quick procedure with a minimum of local anesthesia. Good luck with it.
Barb Stratton
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