Chemo Therapy?

Question

Does it hurt? Like the weekly treatments that people go in for do they hurt? I heard chemo hurts but what is the pain, and what is it that is hurting you?? Thanks

Answer 1

The actual giving of the chemo does not hurt. You may have a bit of pain if you have an IV. But usually they give you a port in your chest, which is painless during chemo infusion. But putting the port in your chest is a same day surgery and takes a few days to recover from.

Chemo does have side effects. I have had two chemos (A/C) so far for breast cancer and had nausea that is now under control and completely eleminated by a drug called Emend. The second time I had sores throughout my innards, with a pain of about a 5. There is Magic mouthwash to help.

Chemo is not as bad as it once was. For each side effect, they usually have a drug or advice on how to control it. Don't be afraid. Chemo is very doable. Of course you might lose your hair (I did). But it grows back.

Answer 2

chemo, there are many different forms. Some are given directly into a intravenous vein or muscle, others are taken by mouth. Some of the chemo drugs are given in the doctors office or clinic, and some types can be taken home. Some types are given in the hospital, because they require special monitoring of the treatment and its side effects. chemo is given in cycles with breaks between cycles that may help reduce side effects. the cycles varies for different chemo regimens. I know from experience that its not necessarily painful, its the side effects that become painful. Not everyone has the same side effects. some of the most common side effects are hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a tingling or numbing sensation of the hands and feet, temporary or permanent loss of menstruation, blisters or sores in the mouth and throat, and the feeling of tiredness. Its basically the fear on the unknown is what actually hurts. I guess you could call the pain mental pain. With all the meds they give you these days it makes taking chemo alot easier to cope with. "Don't know if this is the answer you were looking for, but for me this is the way i can describe chemo"

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Everybody has different reactions to chemotherapy; there are even a lucky few who have hardly any or no side effects and continue working almost as normal throughout treatment.

There can be some pain or discomfort when the cannula is inserted, but you'd expect that with any needle. The treatment itself doesn't hurt. I've never heard of anybody who felt pain or burning as one answerer describes and I certainly didn't.

The discomfort comes afterwards with the side effects. Nausea is a common side effect, but modern anti-nausea medication is good and though you may feel nauseous you're far less likely to be throwing up. Headaches are a common side effect too.Constipation due to the steroids given with chemo can be very uncomfortable. Fatigue can be overwhelming. Depression and feeling low are fairly common side effects. Some people get sores in their mouths, which would obviously hurt.

Those are common side effects; different chemo drugs have different side effects though, and some may have side effects that cause more discomfort or even pain than others. If you are going to have chemotherapy, your oncologist will discuss with you the possible and likely side effects of the particular drugs you are to be given.

Answer 5

It depends upon what type of chemotherapy you get, and other factors that are not in your control. Generally, getting chemo is not the painful part. I am undergoing chemo right now for breast cancer, and I can tell you first hand, it sucks. I think of it as a hangover, rolled up with the flu. Everyone has their own experience (I am also a physician and have polled my patients who've gotten chemo). I hope it's better for you than it has been for me. The tips that would matter for you depend on how you do with side effects. My tips would be - cut hair short early, be prepared to not like all the foods you normally like, and not tolerate the foods you normally like. Follow the mouth care tips (you'll see them online) asap. Do not be surprised if constipation, diarrhea, nose bleeds, daily headaches, take over your life. Keep in mind, it will end--it will end-- it will end.

Answer 6

Chemotherapy is administered in different ways, depending on the drugs to be given and the type of cancer. Doctors decide the dose of chemotherapy drugs considering many factors, among them being the patient's height and weight.

Chemotherapy may be given by one or more of the following methods:

* orally
* by injection
* through a catheter or port

Mostly, Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy is injected into a vein. A small needle is inserted into a vein on the hand or lower arm. The needle is usually attached to a small tube called a catheter, which delivers the drug to the needle from an IV bag or bottle. PLEASE NOTE THAT IT WILL NOT HURT YOU BUT JUST LIKE IV FLUIDS DRIP YOU WILL HAVE NORMAL PAIN AND DISCOMFORTS.

But the side effects at the end of the chemo cycle and afterwards will be very much troubling.

Although chemotherapy is given to kill cancer cells, it also can damage normal cells. The normal cells most likely to be damaged are those that divide rapidly:

* bone marrow/blood cells
* cells of hair follicles
* cells lining the reproductive and digestive tracts

Damage to these cells accounts for many of the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Side effects are different for each chemotherapy drug, and they also differ based on the dosage, the route the drug is given, and how the drug affects you individually.

Some chemotherapy drugs have more side effects than others. Some of the most common side effects are:

* nausea and vomiting
* loss of appetite
* hair loss
* anemia and fatigue
* infection
* easy bleeding or bruising
* sores in the mouth and throat
* neuropathy and other damage to the nervous system
* kidney damage

Nausea and vomiting are common, but can usually be controlled by taking antinausea drugs, drinking enough fluids, and avoiding spicy foods. Loss of appetite may be due to nausea or the stress of undergoing cancer treatment. Your doctors will give certain medications to reduce the side effects. But it is very essential you should continue with the Chemotherapy to fight the disease AS CANCER IS STILL AN ENIGMA.

Most chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, but it is almost always temporary.-

Answer 7

Most of the complaints with chemo aren't necessarily pain, but expected side effects. Nausea is one of the most common -- but medications (particularly Zofran) works wonders for chemo-induced nausea.

It's possible that there might be a stinging involved, after all, you're essentially having poison shot into your body -- but, that'll pass quickly, if it even occurs. . . the nausea and fatigue are definitely the major two.

Answer 8

Chemo does hurt. Your veins are burning while the poisen travels through your system. Some chemo's are neurotoxic and cause nerve death in your hands and feet ( pins and needle pain and burning sensation). Chemo kills cancer cells and good cells. It depletes your bone marrow and that can cause bone pain. Finally you feel about as crappy as you can possibly feel without actually dying it is finally over and your body starts to regenerate cancer free (hopefully)

Answer 9

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RE:
Chemo Therapy?
Does it hurt? Like the weekly treatments that people go in for do they hurt? I heard chemo hurts but what is the pain, and what is it that is hurting you?? Thanks

Answer 10

when i received my chemo the nurse told me that because the chemicals can burn going in that they add a pain killer into the mix
there is the nausea, mouth sores, headaches
where i experienced extreme pain was with the neulasta shot that they give you if your immune system drops too low..the bone pain i would experience for a week after getting that shot had me in tears