2007-02-26 07:42:16 · 8 answers · asked by nutritionist34 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
it lessens the nausea and probably decreases the inflammation that the chemo would cause in the veins, etc.
2007-02-26 08:20:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The steroids, such as Prednisone, increase the white blood cell count, which chemo radically lowers. If it gets too low you may have to have a transfusion of not just white blood cells but platelets etc. too.
White blood cells are basically your immune system....most people die due to side effects, ie catching pneumonia etc.
EG: If normal is between 50-100, Prednisone might boost it to 400, so that when you have chemo, it might fall to just 50 and not to the point where you are neutropenic.
Sorry about your dad there...that was very cruel of them to give you hope when there was none. It certainly would have made acceptance a little easier knowing it was terminal.
2007-02-26 09:36:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Steroids are used to prevent inflammation in sensitive tissues as a result of the chemotherapy.
2007-02-26 07:46:40 · answer #3 · answered by Gary D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In addition to the reasons that many stated above, I was given steroids to shrink my tumor while the chemo was busy killing it. My tumor was wrapped around my neck and was impeding my ability to swallow. The steroids shrunk it some, but the chemo actually killed it.
2007-02-27 01:29:30 · answer #4 · answered by Char 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there were studies made that taking steroids specifically decadron lessens the side effects (nausea) of chemo, it is used usually with other anti-nausea med like zofran.
2007-02-26 07:46:12 · answer #5 · answered by ♦cat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They say it helps with treatments sometimes for breathing it varies i think they are crazy my dad died feb 1st he tried everything and he didnt live they could just be truthful so people wernt so bitter when they realized that nothing would help
2007-02-26 07:49:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Chemo is tiring......steroids give you a boost.
2007-02-26 07:46:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
To make themselves feel good and to look good.
2007-02-26 07:51:00 · answer #8 · answered by Samantha Thompson 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋