PATIENT SUPPORT - Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to treat cancer. There are 100 chemotherapy drugs, used individually or in various combinations. You and your doctor will decide which drug or combination of drugs, dosages, frequency, and length of treatment that is best for you.

Depending on the type of cancer and its stage of development, chemotherapy can be used to:

• Cure your cancer
• Keep the cancer from spreading
• Slow the cancer's growth
• Kill cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body from the original tumor
• Relieve symptoms caused by cancer

Questions to Ask Your Nurse

• What is the goal of chemotherapy for my cancer?
• What are the chances that the chemotherapy will work?
• After chemotherapy, will I be cured, in remission, or relieved of my symptoms?
• Are there other ways to achieve the same goal?
• How will I know if the chemotherapy is working?
• If the chemotherapy does not work, are there other treatments for me?
• What are the potential risks and side effects of chemotherapy?
• Will my diet, activities, work, exercise, sexual activity be restricted in any way?