Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Sexual Health, Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Sexual Health, Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Fitness
    • Weight loss
    • Yoga
    • Diet
    • Healthy recipes
    • Weight training
    • Body-Mind-Soul
  • Beauty
    • Home remedies
    • Haircare
    • Hair loss
    • Skin care
    • Anti-ageing
    • Make-up
  • Diseases
    • Natural Remedies
    • Alternative medicine
    • Women’s Health
    • Stress
    • Symptoms A-Z
    • Health A-Z
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Love & Sex
    • Love and relationships
    • Sex Guide
    • Sex queries
    • Contraception
    • Sex positions
    • STDs
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Pregnancy Guide
    • Infertility
    • Conceiving
    • Labour & Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Baby Care
    • Breastfeeding
    • Children’s Health
    • Children’s Nutrition
  • News
  • Galleries
    • Fitness
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Pregnancy
  • Videos
    • Fitness
    • Beauty
    • Diseases
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Pregnancy
  • Desi Wisdom
Home / Diseases & Conditions / All you need to know about chemotherapy

All you need to know about chemotherapy

Dr Pritam S Kataria, Medical and Hemat oncologist at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, says that if you have undergone chemotherapy and experience side-effects for more than a day, then consult your doctor immediately.

Editorial Team   | Updated: February 10, 2019 11:48 am
Tags: Cancer awareness  Cancer cell  Cancer cure  Cancer detection  Chemotherapy  
Chemotherapy side effects
Facts about chemotherapy. © Shutterstock

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a correct cancer diagnosis is vital for adequate and effective treatment because every cancer type requires a specific treatment regimen that encompasses one or more modalities like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy and the main goal is generally to treat cancer. Hence, it is essnetail for people to know how chemotherapy works. Here, Dr Pritam S Kataria, Medical and Hemat oncologist at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, briefs you about it.

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is used in treating cancer. The term chemotherapy refers to the drugs which prevent cancer cells from dividing and growing and It does this by killing the dividing cells. As part of the body’s natural process, cells are replaced by a process of dividing and growing. But, when cancer occurs, cells tend to reproduce in an uncontrolled way. Hence, chemotherapy drugs interfere with a cancer cell’s ability to divide and reproduce. To tackle cancer, a single drug or a combination of drugs are used. So, these can be delivered either directly into the bloodstream, to attack cancer cells, or they can be targeted to specific cancer sites. “It is generally available in the intravenous form,” says Dr Kataria. It can be injected directly into a vein with a needle or can be delivered through an intravenous infusion.

5 Must-know things about chemotherapy

1: The duration
” Chemotherapy treatments can range from a few months to years depending on the spread and intensity of cancer. On average, it is administered as weekly or on the basis of three weekly regimen. The duration can be few months or continued as maintenance based on the stage of cancer. However in case of maintenance cycles, periodic assessment is required which the treating onco-physician would advise you,” says Dr Kataria.

2: The side-effects
“Each chemotherapy agent would have its own bunch of side effects. However, almost all the drug have some basic side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mucositis (the inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the oral cavity which is painful), neutropenia (can be called as a blood condition which is characterized by low levels of neutrophils, which are white blood cells that protect the body from infections) and thrombocytopenia (deficiency of platelets in the blood) . Though, all the patients may not experience the mentioned side-effects. But, awareness is required so that the symptoms are not missed and the doctor can be consulted on time.” highlights Dr Kataria.

3: Precautions while undergoing chemotherapy
“One should maintain good hygiene, eat fresh food and give up on raw or stale food. Your diet should be loaded with proteins and vitamins. Furthermore, you should avoid going to crowded areas. Thus, doing so can help you in keeping additional infections at bay,” advises Dr Kataria.

4: When to contact your doctor?
“If you have undergone chemotherapy and notice any side-effects lasting for more than a day, then connect to your expert immediately. The other symptoms that one should keep in mind are a fever of 100.5°F or higher, bleeding, pain or redness at the IV site where the chemo was given, inability to swallow/ keep down liquids/ the chemo pills,” explains Dr Kataria.

5: Hair loss
“Hair loss or alopecia may occur with the chemotherapy drugs. It may be complete or incomplete alopecia. However the alopecia is reversible and the hair growth occurs once the chemotherapy is over,” says Dr Kataria.

Published: February 10, 2019 10:35 am | Updated:February 10, 2019 11:48 am
Disclaimer: TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any specific results as a result of the procedures mentioned here and the results may vary from person to person. The topics in these pages including text, graphics, videos and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice.
Know how fungus impairs your immune system

Know how fungus impairs your immune system

Swine flu claims 5 more lives in Rajasthan, toll 105

Swine flu claims 5 more lives in Rajasthan, toll 105

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Related Stories

Know about these natural remedies to treat skin cancer

Know about these natural remedies to treat skin cancer

Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee diagnosed with blood cancer

Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee diagnosed with blood cancer

This novel approach brings hope in targeting cancer cells

This novel approach brings hope in targeting cancer cells

Are you above 55? Load up on watermelons to reduce your risk of prostate cancer

Are you above 55? Load up on watermelons to reduce your risk of prostate cancer

Health News in Hindi

चिप्स और जंक फूड देखकर क्यों ललचाते हैं आप ?

चिप्स और जंक फूड देखकर क्यों ललचाते हैं आप ?

4 तरीके जो कंट्रोल कर सकते हैं टाइप 2 डायबिटीज

4 तरीके जो कंट्रोल कर सकते हैं टाइप 2 डायबिटीज

हफ्ते में इतने घंटे से ज्यादा करते हैं काम तो हो सकते हैं डायबिटीज के शिकार

हफ्ते में इतने घंटे से ज्यादा करते हैं काम तो हो सकते हैं डायबिटीज के शिकार

डायबिटीज के मरीजों को रात में भोजन के बाद 15 मिनट करना चाहिए यह काम

डायबिटीज के मरीजों को रात में भोजन के बाद 15 मिनट करना चाहिए यह काम

एग्जाम के समय बच्चों की डाइट में इन पांच खाद्य पदार्थों को जरूर शामिल करें

एग्जाम के समय बच्चों की डाइट में इन पांच खाद्य पदार्थों को जरूर शामिल करें

Read All

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

India Webportal Private Limited 135, Continental Building, Dr. Annie Basent Road, Worli, Mumbai – 400 018.

Useful Links

  • Shirodhara
  • Organ donation
  • Breastfeeding week
  • World Mosquito Day
  • Eye donation
  • Independence Day
  • World Population Day
  • Reconstructive Surgery
  • DIY projects
  • World Hepatitis Day
  • Safety tips for monsoon
  • Acne
  • Liver health
  • Winter care
  • Cancer
  • Mental Health
  • Depression
  • First Aid
  • HIV AIDS
  • Swine Flu
  • Cough
  • Ayurveda
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Healthy eating
  • Desi Wisdom
  • Healthy Food
  • Healthy Home
  • Go Natural
  • Weight Loss Tips
  • Fitness Workouts
  • Heart Health
  • Quit Smoking
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Flat Abs
  • Workplace Wellness

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2019 TheHealthSite