Cancer and Chemotherapy the Curse of the Universe

Cancer is a word known by almost every person in the universe; it is a dreaded word that no one person wants to hear about especially concerning ourselves. Cancer is a malignant growth that is ruining millions of peoples lives daily. It doesn’t have a care who it attacks, rich, poor, adults, children, even animals. Has cancer always been so virulent amongst the population, or is it the modern lifestyle that has caused what seems like an explosion through out the whole world.

Breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, bowel cancer and skin cancer are just a few. Not one single part of our body is safe from that hated word. Dreams of a simple cure being found may be in the far distant future but for the present chemotherapy is one of the main fighters against the disease.

What is chemotherapy?

We have probably all heard of it but until we are faced with having the treatment we won’t have given it a lot of thought. Some people who have gone through it will tell you about the terrible effects it had on them, while others will say it wasn’t so bad, so don’t listen to any of them as your experience may be entirely different. Chemotherapy is given to stop the growth of cancer cells in your body. There are various ways of receiving the chemotherapy it may be a pill or an injection but the most common way is through an IV line which means intravenous.

An IV line is a tiny tube that is inserted into a vein usually on the arm. The IV line is attached to a bag that holds the medicine. The medicine flows from the bag or pump into the vein, which goes into the blood. Once it is in the blood it travels through the body and attacks the cancer cells. Sometimes the IV line is inserted into a larger vein in the upper chest. This type of IV line is called a catheter it is called permanent and it stays in place until the patient has finished with the cancer treatment.

Your treatment schedule is very important so never miss a single session. If you do miss a treatment session you must contact your doctor. Your schedule may need changing if you are going on holiday or for any other reason. Most people who are receiving chemotherapy may find that they tire easily, but many may feel well enough to continue to lead an active life. Each person and treatment is different, so it is not always possible to tell exactly how you will react. 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 you feel. Most people can continue working while receiving chemotherapy. However if your chemotherapy makes you feel very tired or you have other side effects then time off may be needed.