I am just not clear on it. I know it rida the cancer of his body but I just dont understand. I want to know to try and help even though he lives across the country. He needs support from his family mostly me. I am closest with him and I dont even understand.
2007-03-19 11:29:55 · 9 answers · asked by Rachel H 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that attack fast-growing cells with a high metabolic rate, such as cancer cells, and kill them.
The unfortunate thing is that the chemotherapy drugs also attack other cells in the body with a high metabolic rate, such as the cells that line the digestive system (which is one reason why people who have chemotherapy are nauseous a lot), the rapidly-dividing cells in the body that make red blood cells and white blood cells (which is why cancer patients can become very tired, they become anemic, and why they are very susceptible to infections-- their white blood cell count is down).
Chemotherapy can also have an affect on a person's behavior. Even aside from the stress that a person is feeling just to have cancer and be in chemotherapy, the drugs can act on brain cells to make the person susceptible to mood swings and depression.
First thing you need to understand: what cancer patients need is not people hovering over them worrying. They most especially do not need to hear horror stories about other people who had the same kind of cancer and who died. (I do not know why idiots tell people with cancer these kinds of stories, but I hope there is an especially hot place in hell for the people who do!)
What cancer patients need are people who will help them to enjoy things in life even while the treatment is going on. This can be by just listening to what they have to say, and acting on what they say: following their lead in what they can do and what they can't do.
There may be days your brother feels good and wants to do things. There may be days when he's tired and just wants to take it easy. There may be days when he can't bear to be around people and days when he can't bear to be alone. Take your cues from him, and try not to be judgemental or frightened.
At the same time, if he behaves like a jerk (and he may, some people with cancer seem to believe that it gives them a "get out of jail free" card to behave badly) and says or does something that hurts you, TELL HIM. It's important for him to understand that he isn't alone in going through a frightening time-- that the whole family is going through it too, and that while you may forgive him for bad behavior, you won't allow yourselves to sanction it in him just because he's sick.
He will have a number of chemo treatments, the number and duration and severity depending on what kind of cancer he has, how advanced it is, and what the doctors determine is the best treatment for him. Most people achieve remission after the treatments and the cancer is gone.
My younger brother went through chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The treatment lasted about a year and was one of the toughest times we ever had, but we all got through it an my brother emerged cancer-free in the end. Hang in there and don't be frightened. It's not an easy time but it is bearable and the outcome is more often a good one than otherwise.
2007-03-19 12:16:49 · answer #1 · answered by Karin C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm so sorry your brother, you, and your family is going through this! The good news is that many more cancer patients are going into remission and living healthy lives afterward than ever before.
Check out The American Cancer Society web site: www.cancer.org for information about type of cancers and treatments. "Chemo" is basically the use of chemicals (like drugs) to treat cancer. They can be swallowed, or injected through an i.v. drip into the bloodstream. If you read up on the Cancer Society web site (search "chemotherapy"), you'll be more clear on what to expect.
Ask your brother what kind of cancer he has. You can then search it on the ACS web site for more information.
Some days he'll just want to talk about what he's going through. Try to listen uncritically - be his sounding board. Some days, he'll just want to forget about the cancer and talk about "normal" things. Try not to take his reactions, whatever they may be that day, personally. He's scared, tired, frustrated, and doesn't feel well, so sometimes he'll be extremely irritable. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you or is unhappy with you.
Once you find out about the kind of cancer he has, you can also ask your doctor about it, and see if there's a support group available where you live (some ACS chapters have them, and almost all hospitals). You can ask to talk to a therapist through your doctor - the support people need support, too, and a therapist is an objective person who can help you find the best ways to help your brother.
Good luck!
2007-03-19 19:03:51 · answer #2 · answered by peculiarpup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chemotherapy is when they use toxic substances to destroy cancer cells. Unfortunately it is not possible to target only the cancer cells, so other otherwise healthy cells get killed in the process. This is why people who undergo chemo lose hair and have other ill side effects. The principle behind this treatment is to give the patient a dose high enough to kill off the cancer but low enough as to avoid causing permanent harm to the patient.
2007-03-19 18:35:40 · answer #3 · answered by caydon_2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In its non-oncological use, the term may also refer to antibiotics (antibacterial chemotherapy). In that sense, the first modern chemotherapeutic agent was Paul Ehrlich's arsphenamine, an arsenic compound discovered in 1909 and used to treat syphilis. This was later followed by sulfonamides discovered by Domagk and penicillin G discovered by Alexander Fleming.
Other uses of cytostatic chemotherapy agents (including the ones mentioned below) are the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis and the suppression of transplant rejections
2007-03-19 18:33:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's almost a poison, it kills the bad cells, but it also kills the good cells too. if he is interested in taking an alternative form of cancer treatment, i work at a pharmaceuticals company that provides a revolutionary and all natural product. just message me if you want more info.
2007-03-19 18:33:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in this therapy,,,,the doctors,,,pass strong radiations onto the affected area to kill the cancerous cells..to prevent the cancer from spreading more.in the body,,,,actually...someimes,,,abnormal changes occur in our genes.....so the body cells keep on dividing even if they dont have to,,,,,these are cancerous cells,,,,kemotherapy...kills these cells so that they do not keep on dividing more and more...good luck!
2007-03-19 18:39:49 · answer #6 · answered by ~Sid~ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chemotherapy uses radiation to locate and kill cancerous cells in the body.
2007-03-19 18:32:27 · answer #7 · answered by the_pink_dahlia 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chemotherapy: Treatment with anticancer drugs.
2007-03-19 18:35:57 · answer #8 · answered by michelle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotherapy
read this, it might help you understand a little better.
good luck to your brother!
2007-03-19 18:33:15 · answer #9 · answered by tamara_cyan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋