Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a very common treatment option for patients with cancer. The drugs associated with the treatment can be given by mouth or through an injection. Because the medicines travel through the blood stream to the entire body, chemotherapy is considered a body-wide (systemic) treatment, as it will affect areas of your body in addition to the cancer site.

Chemotherapy has several different applications, and may be used in one of the following ways:

• Cure the cancer
• Keep the cancer from spreading
• Ease symptoms (when the cancer cannot be cured)

Chemotherapy medicines usually target cells that divide quickly. However, normal cells -- including those found in the blood, hair, and the lining of the gastrointestinal tract -- also divide very quickly. That means chemotherapy can also damage or kill these healthy cells. When this occurs, side effects such as nausea, anemia and hair loss can occur. Some persons who receive chemotherapy also have fatigue, nerve pain and infection.

While our staff will make every effort to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible throughout your ongoing chemotherapy treatments, we highly recommend that you engage the support of loved ones with you throughout your cancer treatment.

Trinity provides chemotherapy services at its Infusion Center or in a private oncology physician's office.