Chemotherapy Cost in India

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. It usually acts by preventing cancer cells from growing, dividing, or proliferating. Chemotherapy has a greater effect on cancer cells because they grow and divide quicker than normal cells.

Chemotherapy aims are determined by the type of cancer and how far it has spread. The goal of treatment is sometimes to eradicate all cancer and prevent it from returning. If this is not possible, you may be given chemotherapy to help slow or stop the progression of your cancer.

Chemotherapy can help manage cancer symptoms by delaying or decreasing their progression. Palliative chemotherapy is a type of chemotherapy used to slow the progression of cancer.

Duration of Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy is frequently administered for a set period of time, such as six months or a year. Alternatively, you could undergo chemotherapy for as long as it is effective. For example, you could receive chemotherapy on the first day and then rest for three weeks before continuing the treatment. A treatment cycle is a three-week period. A chemotherapy course is made up of several cycles. A typical course lasts three months or longer.

When is Chemotherapy needed?

Doctors use chemotherapy in different ways at different times. These include:

• To cure cancer without the use of any other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used to treat cancer as a main or sole treatment.
• To eliminate hidden cancer cells after other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used to destroy any cancer cells that remain in the body following other treatments, such as surgery. This is referred to as adjuvant therapy by doctors.
• To get you ready for other treatments. Chemotherapy can reduce a tumor enough for additional treatments like radiation and surgery to be considered. This is referred to as neoadjuvant therapy by doctors.
• To reduce the severity of signs and symptoms. Chemotherapy can help alleviate cancer signs and symptoms by destroying some cancer cells. This is described as palliative chemotherapy by doctors.

Some chemotherapy medications have been found to be effective in the treatment of other illnesses, including:

• Diseases of the bone marrow: A bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant, can be used to treat diseases that affect the bone marrow and blood cells. Chemotherapy is frequently used to aid in the preparation of a bone marrow transplant.
• Disorders of the immune system: In disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, lower doses of chemotherapeutic medicines can help manage an overactive immune system.

How is Chemotherapy treatment done?

Chemotherapy may be given in several different ways, which are discussed below:

• Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy: Many medications must be injected straight into a vein. This is referred to as intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. Treatment can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Some IV medications are more effective if given over several days or weeks. You administer them using a tiny pump that you wear or carry. Continuous infusion chemotherapy is the term for this type of treatment.
• Oral chemotherapy: Some medications can be taken orally. They can come in the form of a pill, a capsule, or a liquid. This means you might be able to pick up your medication from the pharmacy and take it home with you. Oral cancer therapies are becoming more common. . Some of these medications are taken on a daily basis, while others are taken less frequently. For example, a medicine could be given every day for four weeks before taking a two-week hiatus.
• Injected chemotherapy This is when you get chemotherapy in the form of an injection. The shot can be injected into a muscle or under the skin. These shots might be given to you in your arm, leg, or abdomen. The medical term for your stomach is abdomen.
• Chemotherapy into an artery A blood channel that transfers blood from your heart to another region of your body is known as an artery. Chemotherapy is sometimes injected directly into an artery that leads to the malignancy. Intra-arterial chemotherapy, or IA chemotherapy, is the term for this type of treatment.
• Chemotherapy into the peritoneum or abdomen Chemotherapy administered through the peritoneum or the abdomen. Medication may be injected straight into your abdomen for some malignancies. This treatment is effective for malignancies of the peritoneum. The peritoneum surrounds the intestines, liver, and stomach and covers the inside of the abdomen. Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers to spread to the peritoneum.
• Topical chemotherapy Some forms of chemotherapy are available as a cream that you apply to your skin. You go to the pharmacy and pick up your medication, which you then take at home.

What Results can I Expect from Chemotherapy?

During chemotherapy, you'll see your cancer doctor (oncologist) on a frequent basis. Your oncologist will inquire about any adverse effects you're having, as many of them can be managed.

You may also have scans and other tests to monitor your cancer during chemotherapy treatment, depending on your situation. These tests can help your doctor figure out how your cancer is reacting to treatment and change your treatment accordingly.