Download CHEMOTHERAPY

In this section you will learn about:
• What is chemotherapy
• Understanding your blood work
• Your first chemotherapy treatment
• Paying for your medicine
• Complementary and alternative therapies
CHEMOTHERAPY
CHEMOTHERAPY
Treating cancer with chemotherapy
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs to destroy, slow down,
or stop the growth of cancer cells. Other
types of treatments that use drugs to
Chemotherapy
teaching class
target cancer cells include hormonal drug
therapy, biological therapy, and targeted
Ask a member of your
therapy. The type of treatment you have
healthcare team about attending
depends on many factors, including your
a class to prepare for your
type of cancer.
chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is sometimes used after
surgery or radiation to target cells that were too small to see or were not
destroyed. Chemotherapy might also be used before surgery or radiation to
shrink the size of the tumour.
How is chemotherapy given?
• Through a vein (Intravenous or ‘IV’), or
• By mouth (oral)
Is chemotherapy painful?
It does not hurt to get chemotherapy. If you a feel burning sensation or see
redness or swelling in the area of the needle, tell your chemotherapy nurse
right away.
After you are home, if you feel pain, see redness or swelling in the arm where
you received chemotherapy, call the Triage Nursing Line (See the contact page
at the front of this binder).
Can I take other medicines while I am on chemotherapy?
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Some medicines and natural health products (including vitamins, minerals
and herbal supplements) can affect the chemotherapy drugs you are taking.
It is important to bring a list or the drugs themselves (in the original
containers) to your appointments. Your doctor or nurse will ask you
questions about your medicines and let you know if it is safe to continue
taking them.
Why does chemotherapy lead to side effects?
Chemotherapy does not only damage cancer cells — it also damages some
healthy cells. It is important to remember that everyone reacts differently to
chemotherapy. See the section called “Side Effects” for more information on
why chemotherapy may cause side effects and how to manage them.
Please read over the “When to call for help page” at the front of
this binder for a list of times when you should get help.
Understanding your blood work
Before each treatment, blood work will be done to measure your blood
counts. Your treatment may be delayed if you have a low blood count.
These blood counts are measuring your:
• White blood cells
• Red blood cells
• Platelets
Your white blood cells are important to fight off infections in your body.
Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body. Platelets help
to make your blood clot if you are bleeding and help wounds heal. Some
treatments can affect how many white blood cells, red blood cells and
platelets your body is making.
Some people can have blood work done at an outside lab. Talk to your
healthcare team to see if this is possible for you.
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What if I have a low white blood count?
Low white blood cell counts make the body more open to infection.
It is called neutropenia. While you are having chemotherapy,
infections while on chemotherapy can happen very quickly and
make people very sick.
Your risk of infection is greatest 5 to 14 days after each treatment.
Watch for signs of infection, including:
• A fever — you have a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
• Chills or shakes
• Areas of redness or tenderness
• Pain, burning, frequent urge to urinate
• Feeling unwell, like a flu
• Cough or sore throat
What you can do:
• Wash your hands often with plain soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Take your temperature daily or when you are feeling unwell.
• Avoid people who are sick.
• Do not take ASA (Aspirin®, acetylsalicylic acid) without speaking to
your oncologist.
• If a doctor has advised you to take ASA to prevent heart disease or
stroke, please talk to your oncologist before starting treatment.
• Do not use ASA for headache, fever, or occasional aches and pains; use
acetaminophen (Tylenol®) instead.
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Fever
If you have a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher:
• Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00
p.m., call (519) 685-8600, press ‘3’ to
call the Triage Nursing Line.
• After hours, holidays, and on
weekends call your family doctor
or go to your nearest Emergency
Department. Tell staff that you are
receiving chemotherapy and that
you have a fever. Show them your
fever card.
• DO NOT take acetaminophen (e.g.,
Tylenol™) for your fever until you
speak with a doctor or nurse.
FEVER CARD
This may be an oncologic EMERGENCY
Having a fever is a
medical emergency.
Have a good thermometer that
you can read and understand.
What if I have a low red blood count?
When you don’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around your
body, your tissues cannot do their jobs properly. Having low red blood cell
counts is called anemia.
When your red blood cell count is low you may:
• Feel tired
• Feel short of breath with activity
• Feel dizzy or light headed
• Have a headache
• Have chest pain
What you can do:
• Rest in between activities
• Plan healthy meals and eat food high in protein
• Get up slowly so that you do not get dizzy
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What if I have a low platelet count?
Normally, if you cut yourself, the platelets in your blood make the bleeding
stop by forming a clot.
If your platelet count is low you may have:
• Bruises or small purple spots on your body
• Bleeding that will not stop
• Blood in your urine or stool (or black stool)
What you can do:
• Use a soft toothbrush. Check with your oncologist before dental work.
• Prevent constipation. Do not use suppositories or enemas.
• Avoid ASA (such as Aspirin®) and ASA containing products.
• Use an electric shaver instead of a razor blade.
To stop the bleeding, apply pressure and hold for 5-10 minutes or until the
bleeding stops. If you can’t stop the bleeding you must go to your local
Emergency Department. Make sure you have a driver.
Yo u r f i r s t c h e m o t h e r a p y
treatment
Check-in at the chemotherapy
reception desk, located on level 2.
You will be given a pager. When it is
time for your appointment, your pager
will vibrate and �lash. A nurse will
come to greet you outside of the
chemotherapy suite.
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You will be asked to wash your hands at
the sanitizing station and reminded that
this is a scent-free environment.
Artificial scents can make some people
in the chemotherapy suite feel
more nauseous.
You will be offered a bed or a comfortable
lazy-boy chair, depending on what is
available. It is a good idea to dress in
layers, because the chemotherapy suite
is kept at a cool temperature. Feel free
to bring in your own blanket.
We have a portable DVD player if you would like to watch a movie. You
are welcome to bring in your own DVD or choose one from our selection of
movies.
Can I bring someone with me into the chemotherapy suite?
Yes, you can bring one person with you into the chemotherapy suite. Children
under the age of 16 are not allowed in the chemotherapy suite, since it is not
safe for them. You will never be alone. There will always be a nurse watching
you while you get your treatment.
Lunch and snacks
You may bring food with you to your treatments. Family or friends can also
bring food in for you when you are getting treatment.
Driving
On your treatment days, please find someone to drive you to LRCP, or your
local chemotherapy clinic. Some of the medicines might make you drowsy.
If no one is able to drive you to LRCP, contact the Canadian Cancer Society if
you would like a volunteer driver to help you. See the contact page to find the
phone number.
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Paying for your medicine
Most medicines given in the chemotherapy suite are covered by OHIP. You
have to pay for chemotherapy and other medicines that you take at home.
There is a drug access facilitator who can help you understand your options.
For more information on paying for your medicines and how the drug access
facilitator can help, please go to the tab called ‘Finances’.
Complementary and alternative therapies
A complementary therapy is any type of therapy or product that is not
considered a typical treatment for cancer. Complementary therapies are
sometimes used together with conventional treatments.
Alternative therapies are used instead of conventional treatments. Vitamin,
mineral and herbal supplements are one of the most common types of
complementary or alternative therapies.
If you are interested in or using complementary and alternative
therapies, it is important to talk about this with your healthcare
team.
Recommended resources
Visit the Patient & Family Library to get a free copy of the Canadian Cancer
Society’s booklets:
• Chemotherapy and Other Drug Therapies: A guide for people
with cancer
• Complementary Therapies: A guide for people with cancer
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