2007-10-02 17:23:23 · 6 answers · asked by searcher95 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Chemotherapy is a form of cancer treatment often used in conjunction with surgery or radiation therapy. It involves introducing toxic chemicals into the body with the intention of killing dividing cancer cells. The side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, hair loss, diarrhea and fatigue. Going through such a dramatic treatment is hard on the body and the psyche, but chemotherapy is often effective in slowing or halting the spread of cancer.
Step One
Be patient while your doctor performs tests. Tests are the only reliable indicators of whether the chemotherapy is working. Your doctor may frequently perform body scans or blood tests. Ask questions about what your test results indicate.
Step Two
Do not use the presence or lack of side effects as a method of judging whether chemotherapy is working. Side effects do not indicate how your body is responding to treatment. The effects merely are a reaction to the ingredients of your chemotherapy.
Step Three
Give your treatment the best chance of success by making a few lifestyle changes. Healthy eating is one of the best ways to keep your body's strength and energy levels up. Try to eat foods rich in proteins such as lean meat, eggs and skim milk. Your body needs protein to rebuild healthy cells that may be damaged by the chemotherapy. Breads, fruits and vegetables are also necessary components of a healthy diet.
Step Four
Follow your oncologist's advice regarding chemotherapy follow-up. Additional treatment may be necessary, or your doctor may tell you you're now cancer free. No matter what the outcome, frequent monitoring of your condition is still necessary to prevent recurrence.-
2007-10-02 18:37:28 · answer #1 · answered by Jayaraman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your body will have reactions to the chemotherapy. The chemo will attack all the cells of your body as well as the cancer cells. My husband also had chemo for Stage IV cancer. He had five chemo treatments and then stopped because he wasn't strong enough for more. Your doctors will tell you when your body cannot handle any more chemo, and what the options are then. Take care.
2007-10-02 18:36:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally stage IV means the cancer has spread to other organs and chemo in these cases is usually Palliative. It is used to give patients a better quality of life for the remaining time they have left.
2007-10-10 01:31:27 · answer #3 · answered by daboss 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
body does not "reject" chemo therapy. it is a major hit to the system, no ones system accepts it. loss of hair, loss of hunger, loss of strength, all normal, you need to talk to your docs and decide if there is going to be a benefit that balances the negatives to you. some people fight to the end, others feel that the quality of life is much more important then quantity of life. tough choices that you and your family need to make.
2007-10-02 17:40:18 · answer #4 · answered by ron s 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Normally the patient body does not reject the treatment... but your doctor should tell you better
2007-10-08 04:26:27 · answer #5 · answered by Scentless 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
MRI and/or PET Scan to see if the chemo is working or not.
what regimen are you on ... FOLFOX? FOLFIRI?
2007-10-02 19:04:08 · answer #6 · answered by nanabe 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋