WHY CHEMO IS DONE?

To kill cancer cells.Chemotherapy can be used as the primary or sole treatment for cancer. In
some cases, chemotherapy is used with the goal of curing your cancer. In other cases, chemotherapy
may be used with the aim of slowing the cancer's growth.

After other treatments to kill hidden cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be used after other
treatments, such as surgery, to kill any cancer cells that might remain in the body. Doctors call this
adjuvant therapy.

To prepare you for other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used to shrink a tumor so that
other treatments, such as radiation and surgery, are possible. Doctors call this neoadjuvant therapy.

To ease signs and symptoms. Chemotherapy may help relieve signs and symptoms of
advanced cancer, such as pain. This is called palliative chemotherapy.

Ways of receiving chemotherapy

Intravenously (IV). The medication goes directly into a vein. Many of the
traditional chemotherapy drugs are given by this method. A dose of IV
chemotherapy usually lasts a few minutes to a few hours; however, a few drugs are
more effective when given at a slow continuous rate for a few days or weeks at a
time.

Orally. Some of the traditional chemotherapy drugs can be taken by mouth,

meaning they are swallowed as a pill, capsule, or liquid. This is becoming a much
more common method of administration, particularly with newer targeted therapies.

As an injection. The medicine is given as a shot to a muscle or to the fatty part of

the arm, leg, or abdomen.

Intra-arterially (IA). The medicine goes directly into the artery that supplies blood
to the cancer.

Intraperitoneally. The medicine goes directly into the abdomen or peritoneal

cavity (the part of the body that contains the intestines, liver, stomach, andin
womenovaries).
Topically. The medicine is applied as a cream and rubbed into the skin.

Finding and treating nutrition problems early may improve the patient's
prognosis (chance of recovery).
Early nutrition screening and assessment help find problems that may affect how well the patient's
body can deal with the effects of cancer treatment. Patients who are underweight or malnourished
may not be able to get through treatment as well as a well-nourished patient. Finding and treating
nutrition problems early can help the patient gain weight or prevent weight loss, decrease problems
with the treatment, and help recovery.

Anorexia (the loss of appetite or desire to eat) is one of the most common problems for cancer
patients. Eating in a calm, comfortable place and getting regular exercise may improve appetite. The
following may help cancer patients who have a loss of appetite:

Cheese and crackers.

Muffins.

Puddings.

Nutritional supplements.

Milkshakes.

Yogurt.

Ice cream.

Powdered milk added to foods such as pudding, milkshakes, or any recipe using milk.

Finger foods (handy for snacking) such as deviled eggs, deviled ham on crackers, or cream
cheese or peanut butter on crackers or celery.

Chocolate.

Taste Changes
Changes in how foods taste may be caused by radiation treatment, dental problems, mouth sores
andinfections, or some medicines. Many cancer patients who receive chemotherapy notice a bitter
taste or other changes in their sense of taste. A sudden dislike for certain foods may occur. This can

cause a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a decreased quality of life. Some or all of a normal sense
of taste may return, but it may take up to a year after treatment ends. The following may help cancer
patients who have taste changes:
Taking zinc sulfate tablets during radiation therapy to the head and neck may help a normal sense of
taste come back faster after treatment.
Dry mouth is often caused by radiation therapy to the head and neck and by certain medicines. Dry
mouth may affect speech, taste, and the ability to swallow or to use dentures or braces. There is also
an increased risk of cavities and gum disease because less saliva is made to wash the teeth
and gums.
Mouth sores can be caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments affect fastgrowing cells, such as cancer cells. Normal cells inside the mouth also grow quickly and may be
damaged by these cancer treatments. Mouth sores can be painful and become infected or bleed and
make it hard to eat. By choosing certain foods and taking good care of their mouths, patients can
usually make eating easier. The following can help patients who have mouth sores and infections:
Diarrhea may be caused by cancer treatments, surgery on the stomach or intestines, or by
emotionalstress. Long-term diarrhea may lead to dehydration (lack of water in the body) or low levels
of salt andpotassium, which are important minerals needed by the body.
A low white blood cell count may be caused by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or the cancer
itself. Patients who have a low white blood cell count have an increased risk of infection. The
following may help cancer patients prevent infections when white blood cell counts are low:

Dehydration (Lack of Fluid)

The body needs plenty of water to replace the fluids lost every day. Nausea, vomiting, and pain may
keep the patient from drinking and eating enough to get the amount of water the body needs. Longterm diarrhea causes a loss of fluid from the body. One of the first signs of dehydration (lack of water
in the body) is feeling very tired. The following may help cancer patients prevent dehydration:

It is very common for cancer patients to have constipation (fewer than three bowel movements a
week). Constipation may be caused by the following:

Too little water or fiber in the diet.

Not being active.

Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy.

Certain medicines used to treat the side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea and pain.