Prior to Procedure

You may be asked to take some pre-medicines such as:

• Steroids
• Allergy medicines, such as an anti-histamine
• Anti-nausea medicines
• Sedatives
• Antibiotics

Description of the Procedure

Your doctor will talk to you about the best way to deliver the medicine(s). Chemotherapy drugs may be given by:

• Mouth
• Injection into a muscle or vein (IV)
• Catheter tube into the bladder, abdomen, chest cavity, brain, spinal cord, or liver
• Application to the skin

Chemotherapy Through Cardiovascular System Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

How Long Will It Take?

How long it will take depends on the method used, the number of medicines, and the amount of each medicine. A session may be as brief as the time it takes to swallow a pill. It could also take several hours or last overnight. Some types of chemotherapy can be given as a continuous infusion through a portable pump.

Will It Hurt?

The treatment may cause a number of uncomfortable side effects. The delivery of the chemotherapy usually does not hurt.

Average Hospital Stay

Most often, you can leave after the medicine is delivered. Some chemotherapy regimens will require a stay in the hospital. This may be about 2-3 days.

Your doctor may choose to keep you in the hospital if you have complications, such as severe vomiting.

Post-procedure Care

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

• Get a lot of sleep.
• Try to do some physical activity each day. Exercise can help to reduce fatigue.
• Try to eat a healthy diet.
• Drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Use special mouth rinses to avoid or treat mouth sores.
• Administer post-chemotherapy shots if they are prescribed by your doctor. These will help to keep your blood count stable.
• Try to avoid people with diseases that can be spread easily, including children. Chemotherapy will likely weaken your immune system. Viral illnesses, such as the cold or flu, can have serious effects.
• Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Your doctor may order any of the following tests to check the progress of your treatment:

• Tests of your bodily fluids may be done with:
  • Blood tests
  • Urine tests
  • Bone marrow biopsies
• Pictures of your bodily structures may be done with:
  • X-ray
  • Ultrasound
  • MRI scan
  • CT scan
  • Bone scans