Chemotherapy 

Your cancer care team may recommend chemotherapy treatment after reviewing your diagnosis and unique needs. Our dedicated team will guide you through the process, providing support and answering questions every step of the way.

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy (“chemo”) is a drug treatment that kills cancer cells in your body. Chemo doesn’t always use the same drugs, doses, and schedules. Standard chemotherapy is given through IV or injection or by mouth or skin (topical).

Your care team will recommend a plan based on your situation. If your doctor recommends chemotherapy to treat your cancer, you can expect your team to work with you to provide the most effective and comfortable treatment experience.

How does Chemotherapy Work?

Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing cancer cell growth. At the Foley Cancer Center, we give chemotherapy through infusion (a needle placed inside a vein). Infusion treatments send drugs into your bloodstream to circulate through your body and attack cancer cells. Chemotherapy can damage some normal cells, too – but most normal cells can recover over time.

What to Expect During Treatment

Each treatment visit can take anywhere from several minutes to several hours. Oncology pharmacists will visit during your treatment to answer questions and discuss your treatment. We also encourage adult family and friends to visit. We allow one visitor at a time per patient.

During treatment, you’ll sit in a comfortable room with bright windows, reclining chairs, your own television, and access to free Wi-Fi. You can also choose to sleep during treatment in our available beds. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and bringing some items from home.

What to Bring to Chemotherapy

Bringing your own supplies can help you feel more comfortable while you’re in the Infusion Suite.

You may want to bring items from home including:

• Snacks
• Headphones (in case you want to watch a movie or listen to music)
• Your phone or tablet
• Books, magazines, or a notebook
• Games or puzzles
• A blanket

Chemotherapy Side Effects

Chemotherapy can come with significant side effects, although the experience varies from person to person. Side effects happen because the drug treatment affects healthy cells, not just cancer cells. Your care team may recommend other treatments to help with the side effects. Because side effects vary, it’s important to talk with your doctor about what to expect and what the short or long term effects are of the drugs you’re taking.

Some common side effects include:

• Tiredness
• Hair loss
• Easy bruising
• Infections
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation or diarrhea

There are many more possible side effects. The American Cancer Society has a comprehensive online resource for learning about managing specific side effects.

Support Services

We know cancer treatment can be stressful. That’s why we offer support resources alongside our advanced treatment options. Our dedicated team is here to support you from your diagnosis through your recovery. We offer complementary therapies, financial counseling, support groups, and more.