Treatment schedules for chemotherapy vary widely. How often and how long you get chemotherapy depends on your type of cancer and how advanced it is, the goals of treatment, the type of chemotherapy, and how your body reacts to chemotherapy.  You may receive chemotherapy in cycles, which is a period of chemotherapy treatment followed by a period of rest.

It really depends on the individual treatment plan prescribed by your doctor. It can be as short as thirty minutes or as long as three to four hours or possibly more. During your initial consultation your doctor can give you a more specific time frame.

We strive to provide our patients with a treatment plan that allows them to maintain as normal a routine as possible. You may experience some side effects such as fatigue or nausea that will reduce your desire to do certain activities, but you can continue to engage in your normal activities if you feel up to it.

Because most chemotherapy drugs make you less able to fight infection, it’s very important that you stay away from anyone who is sick. The best way to prevent infection is by washing your hands often, especially before touching your face, nose, mouth, or eyes. Ask your family and friends to do the same when they are with you.

If you have had radiation treatments, you are not radioactive and will not harm others by being around them.

The side effects of chemotherapy may prevent you from being able to drive after your treatment. Common side effects are fatigue, nausea and vomiting which may reduce your desire to drive and affect your concentration as well. It is a good idea to have someone drive you home from your first session to see how the medications affect you.  You can also consider taking a taxi or contacting your local American Cancer Society chapter to learn about their patient transportation services.

We encourage you to bring a family member or a friend with you. Having a loved one to offer emotional support or remember details can be invaluable in the healing process.

You can take your prescriptions to any pharmacy approved by your managed care plan or provider.

The best time to take care of prescription refills is during your office visit. At this time your doctor can discuss your medications and make changes if necessary. If you need a refill between office visits, you should call your pharmacy with this request. The pharmacist will then contact us for a refill approval.

You will have your doctor’s cell phone number and can call or text at any time. It is important that you contact your doctor or our office if you have a fever over 101 degrees.

It really depends on the type of chemotherapy drug you are receiving and how large the dosage. Your doctor will be able to tell you what to expect before your treatment begins. Most of the time, any hair loss will be only temporary and your hair will start growing back anywhere from 3 to 10 months after your treatment ends.

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Normal cells grow and die in a controlled way. When cancer occurs, cells in the body that are not normal keep dividing and forming more cells without control. Chemotherapy drugs destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing or multiplying. Healthy cells can also be harmed, especially those that divide quickly. Harm to healthy cells is what causes side effects. These cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy. Because some drugs work better together than alone, two or more drugs are often given at the same time. This is called combination chemotherapy.

For more detailed information, please refer to our guide on the side effects of chemotherapy.

Each person and treatment is different, so it is not always possible to tell exactly how you will react. Most people receiving chemotherapy find that they tire easily, but many feel well enough to continue to lead active lives. Your general state of health, the type and extent of cancer you have, and the kind of drugs you are receiving can all affect how well you feel.

For more detailed information, please refer to our guide on the side effects of chemotherapy.

Many people can work during chemotherapy, as long as they match their schedule to how they feel. Whether or not you can work may depend on what kind of work you do. If your job allows, you may want to see if you can work part-time or work from home on days you do not feel well. Talk with your employer about ways to adjust your work during chemotherapy.

Cancer clinical trials (also called cancer treatment studies or research studies) test new treatments for people with cancer. These can be studies of new types of chemotherapy, other types of treatment, or new ways to combine treatments. The goal of all these clinical trials is to find better ways to help people with cancer.