Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a method of killing cancer cells with drugs. Chemotherapy works by stopping cancer cells from growing, dividing, and creating new ones. Cancer cells divide and grow more rapidly than normal cells, which is why chemotherapy has a greater effect on them. However, chemotherapy drugs can damage healthy cells due to their power.

This results in chemotherapy side effects, which are as follows:

 

• Fatigue

• Hair loss

• Easy bruising and bleeding

• Infection

• Anaemia (low red blood cell counts)

• Nausea and vomiting

• Appetite changes

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Problems with the mouth, tongue, and throat, such as sores and difficulty swallowing

• Peripheral neuropathy or other nerve condition that causes numbness, tingling, or pain

• Changes in skin and nails, such as dry skin and discoloration.

• Problems with the kidneys and urine.

• Gain or loss in weight.

• Concentration problems due to chemo brain.

• Mood changes

• Changes in libido and sexual function

• Fertility problems

 

According to the type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread, chemotherapy has different goals. The goal of cancer treatment is sometimes to eradicate it completely and to prevent it from returning. Chemotherapy may be used to delay or slow cancer growth if this is not possible. In addition to preventing cancer growth, chemotherapy can also reduce cancer symptoms. Palliative chemotherapy is chemotherapy used to delay the growth of cancer.

Several factors affect the drugs, doses, and treatment schedules. Some of them are - Cancer type, Stage of the cancer, your age, body-weight, general well-being, adaptability to certain side effects, any medical conditions and previous cancer treatments.

 

How long does chemotherapy take?

Chemotherapy is often administered for a set period of time, such as six months or a year. It may be administered indefinitely as well. Most drugs have severe side effects that make daily treatment impossible. These drugs are usually given with breaks, so you have time to rest and recover before the next treatment. This allows your healthy cells to repair themselves. The first day of your chemotherapy treatment might be followed by three weeks of recovery time before you repeat the treatment. A cycle of treatment is made up of three weeks. 

 

Several cycles of chemotherapy are involved in chemotherapy. This usually takes three to six months. Some cancers may have shorter recovery times between cycles. This is known as a dose-dense treatment. Chemotherapy can be more effective as a result. Side effects, however, might also increase. Speak with your doctor about the best schedule.

Radiation Oncology Care, Kolkata, is one of the best cancer care centers in Kolkata, which focuses more on patients' well-being than anything else, is one such organization. Cancer treatment isn't painful and expensive, thanks to their advanced and compassionate treatment method. Patients leave feeling healthy and satisfied after their treatment. Good treatment will only be successful if it is assisted by care and positivity. The team consists of 3 clinicians:

1. Dr. Tanweer Shahid, heading the team with more than 13 years of experience in the field.

2. Dr. Mukti Mukherjee

3. Dr. Arundhati De

They specialize in more than 7 sectors, such as Breast cancer, lung cancer, brain tumour, Gastrointestinal Cancer and so on and so forth.