The term chemotherapy is given to cancer treatment involving the use of anti-cancer or cytotoxic (cell killing) drugs. Although chemotherapy drugs can be given in a variety of ways, they are most frequently given intravenously (through a drip), or by mouth.

These powerful drugs target the cancer cells that divide faster than normal cells to prevent them from multiplying. However they can also attack cells in the body that normally divide rapidly, such as the mouth, gut and hair causing side affects such as hair loss and mouth ulcers etc.

The treatment is specially prescribed by a Medical Oncologist and may span over several months with drugs given at regular intervals.

• The timing between treatments is very important, as it must be given before the tumour has time to recover.
• This timing can differ from one individual to another and depends on the type of cancer as well as the general health of the person involved.

However, prior to treatment!

A specially trained chemotherapy nurse will explain the effects and side effects of these drugs and will encourage you to ask questions.

In some cases where a number of drugs must be given, the cancer specialist will offer to place a Hickman or PICC line in a deep vein (either in the arm or chest wall). This is an attempt to promote your comfort and minimise anxiety over repeated insertions of canulas or injections for blood sampling throughout the duration of the treatment.

A specialist nurse will explain all aspects of its insertion and care before you make your decision and will provide you with the appropriate written information.

So what does Chemo do to my blood cells?

• The aim of chemo is to kill cancer cells before they divide and multiply, chemo cannot distinguish between cancer and good cells, therefore, areas of the body that produce fast growing cells are often affected in the cell kill.
• Fully-grown cells are not affected. This is why chemotherapy is given at intervals or pulses to allow blood cells to mature. Unfortunately, white blood cells that help the body fight infection live only 4-5 days this means that during treatment the bone marrow cannot produce enough white cells to replace those lost.
• If your white cells count is very low, your cancer specialist can give you injections to boost the bone marrow and help raise your resistance to infection.
• Sometimes treatment may be delayed for 7-14 days to allow your bone marrow time to recover from the effects of treatment.

In order to minimise the risk of infection caused by low white cells counts your cancer nurse will explain in detail preventative measures to take.