10 Most Important Facts About Chemotherapy That Your Oncologist May Not Tell You

The Internet is full of articles about chemotherapy. That said, there are still some facts that you may not know about chemotherapy. Here is a small attempt to share with you some real facts and experiences about chemotherapy:

1. Depending on the stage of the cancer, chemotherapy is administered in stages. If a patient is detected with cancer, he or she may be advised to go in for sessions of specific durations. In the case of my aunt, she was advised 8 sessions of chemotherapy with a gap of 21 days between each session. Before every session, a blood test is done to make a note of any changes in the count of white blood cells. The blood test is also useful in taking a note of the effect of chemotherapy on the liver or any other parts of the body.

2. For every session, a different blood vein is used for administering injections.

3. After a chemotherapy session, the blood vein used for administering injections becomes damaged and becomes harder. They also become black and can be seen from outside.

4. Once used, a blood vein is not useful for the next session as it becomes harder.

5. If surgery of your left side breast is done with the removal of lymph nodes then the left hand cannot be used for giving chemotherapy or for taking blood test. This is another drawback. This is due to the removal of lymph nodes, and in some cases may cause the swelling of hand.

6. Due care has to be taken while giving chemotherapy to the patient. For example, the patient must not move from the bed, as the needle may move inside and there are chances of the drug to start flowing outside the vein under the skin. This damages the skin and makes it swollen.

7. A patient experiences weakness after every chemotherapy session for a period of 4-5 days. Typically, the 3rd and the 4th day are the days when the patient experiences more weakness.

8. If the right hand is administered a chemotherapy injection, you would experience pain on that hand.

9. Typically, hair loss is seen between the 2nd and 3rd session. Before hair loss, the scalp becomes very sensitive and pains when you sleep on a pillow. The best option is to cut or trim your hair before chemotherapy.

10. Hair is typically lost in a cluster. The hair becomes sticky and gets detached from the scalp before falling.

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