Chemotherapy

Oral chemotherapy is treatment used to treat oral chemo. Also we may define it as drug, which is taken by mouth to treat cancer. Chemotherapy is a medicine used for treating cancer. You may use various ways of chemotherapy. There are several types of chemo that are taken in the form of liquid, tablets or capsule. Like other chemo oral chemo does not need to take injections into the body. Oral chemo also gives good results and works better like other chemo forms. Mostly chemo drugs are injected into vein through an IV line. It is not possible to take drugs by mouth because; if you take it orally, your stomach cannot absorb it and your body may get damaged. But, today many drugs are available in oral form and are very easy to use and treat. You can use it in yourself by following the instructions decided by your caretaker. Duration of chemo will depend on kind of cancer you have. Also it depends on the medicines, which are used for chemotherapy treatment.

How to start your oral chemo?

You have to talk with your doctor and nurse related to oral chemo as like:

• Make sure that the drug, more than one is not having the same name.
• The time, when you can take it.
• Make sure that the directions for taking drugs are easy to follow.
• If you are taking it with other drugs, vitamins, food, supplements, herbs or other treatments, then be cautious about its safety, for your health.
• Method for the storage of drugs.
• Are there any side effects by the drug you have taken? If yes then you should consult with your doctor.
• Duration you need to take oral chemo.
• If you miss dose, what should you do.
• Is there any friend or family member, who will help you during the period of treatment, if you needed?
• Will your doctor call you to know about the results of treatment you are having or how you are going with the chemo.
• Find other health problems that will forget you to take oral chemo.

It is necessary to concern with your doctor about questions you have before you go to oral chemo.

How do you undergo oral chemo?

Your caretaker will tell you the exact instruction for taking chemo medicine. He will give you instructions about how and when to take your medicine. You have to take it exactly as the instructions given by your caretaker. Your doctor or caretaker must need to know about problems occurred due to chemo medicine, so that he will change your treatment plans. The setting of oral chemo allows you to keep the level of drug constant in your body, which helps to kill the cancer cells. There is need to do some changes but changes should be made after consulting with your doctor. Also you may need to see health professional until you feel better and comfortable with oral chemotherapy.
Side effects of chemotherapy

There are many side effects and you may have one or more of these or none of them. Most of them are for short period and ends completely after the treatment completes. Some of these side effects from chemo are as follows:

• Hair loss: This is very common side effect occurred during chemo treatment. Thickness of your hair reduces and ends in falling. It may happen anywhere on your body having hair. You will see these changes right after you begin chemo or after several weeks later. However, this change is for short period because it grows back when you stop your chemo treatment.
• Blood problems: There are some types of cells present in our body such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Number of blood cells in your body may change because of chemo. During chemo treatments your blood may not have enough red blood cells this is known as anemia. There is problem of blood clotting during period of chemo. There may be serious problem to health due to change in blood cells. That’s why you have to do blood tests to find out problems.
• Diarrhea or constipation: Intestine may get affected by chemo thus there are more chances to have diarrhea or constipation. If you are having it for more than 24 hours then you must have to inform your caretaker. If you are not having BM for several days you have to tell your caretaker about it.
• Problems of mouth, gums and throat: You may have sours in mouth and throat, when you are taking chemo treatment. Also if you notice the white patches in your throat, you have to ask your caretaker to prevent this.
• Vomiting or Nausea: There may be vomiting and nausea during your chemo period. You have to consult with your caretaker and take medicines, which are specially made to decrease these side effects.
• Pain: There are many side effects, which give pain.
• Problems to your memory and mood: You get confused or depressed when you are undergoing chemo treatment. In this condition, it will be better if you talk with your friends, family and your caretaker, about your feeling.
• Fatigue: You may feel tired when you are getting chemo. It may happen suddenly or take sometime and it may last for days, weeks and months.
• Symptoms like flue: You may feel flue after getting chemo and this side effect is for very short period and lasts for a few days. Also you may have problems like chills or muscle and joint ache.
• Infection: Chemo gives harm to healthy white blood cells. There is risk of infection if your healthy white blood cells decreased.
• Skin problems: Your skin becomes dry because of chemo. There are other skin problems like rashes, redness, itching and sensitive to sun rays. Also your nails become peel, cracked and yellow, during the period of treatment.
• Sexual problems: your sexual organs may get affected by chemo. Menstruation cycle, in women may change or stops. It also causes vaginal dryness which gives pain or discomfort with sexual intercourse. There may be hot flashes in women, which spreads through out the body. It creates problems to become pregnant for women.

Some tests during getting chemo
These tests help to know how chemotherapy is working. You may need different types of tests and treatments. Some of them are as follows:

• Blood tests: For this treatment blood is taken from blood vessels of your arm. This test is done to see how your body is working. This test will help your caretaker to give more information about your health condition.
• Chest X-ray: Chest X-ray is the picture of your lung and heart and it helps caretaker to see the working of your lung and heart. It is also used to see the infection like pneumonia and find collapsed lungs. It also shows tumors, fluid around the heart and lungs, and broken ribs.
• CT scan: This is also called CAT. A special x-ray machine is used for it. First dye is given through an IV in your vein before taking picture. The dye has given to see better picture of cancer. However, some peoples have allergy due to this dye.
• Transfusion of blood: Blood transfusion is necessary if your blood cells get harmed by chemo. You may take help from your family members or friends having similar blood group. However, blood must be tested to avoid infection of other diseases like AIDS, West Nile Virus, hepatitis etc.
• Vital signs: Your temperature, heart beats, pulse and blood pressure is checked. Blood pressure is checked by putting a cuff on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to the machine, which gives readings of blood pressure. Stethoscope is used to listen to your lungs and heart. Vital signs help caretaker to see the working of your heart and lunge.