Question 1

is it possible to have chemotherapy while traveling out of state? my mom is currently undergoing chemotherapy for stage iii colon cancer.  she lives in ny, by herself, and my siblings and i do not live close.  i live in phoenix, and want her to visit for

Accepted Answer

Chemotherapy : Chemotherapy for colon cancer is usually given every three weeks or so.  Therefore, patients sometimes take a two-week trip between chemotherapy "cycles" as long as they are feeling up to traveling and their blood counts are ok.  It is usually not worth the effort of transferring care to another oncologist for just one dose of chemotherapy to allow someone to make their trip a bit longer. There can also be difficulties with insurance if there are no in-network providers for her plan in arizona.  This is usually less of a problem with patients on medicare.

If your mother wants to move to arizona to actually complete all her treatments, it should be very possible to do so.  I am a radiation oncologist in arizona (so i don't give chemotherapy) and i used to live in manhattan. I am very impressed by the quality of medical oncology in the phoenix area.  She could get top-notch care here if she chooses, but would need a referral to a local oncologist, see him/her in consultation, and then restart the chemo.

Question 2

does chemotherapy affect eyesight?

Accepted Answer

It can, yes.: Most effects on the eyes are minor and temporary, such as dry eyes, watery eyes, and irritation (called "conjunctivitis"); but chemo can cause more serious problems, like cataracts. You should notify your oncologist immediately if you notice any change at all in your eyesight.

Question 3

how severely does chemotherapy hurt?

Accepted Answer

That is a myth: Chemotherapy should not and it does not hurt!
chemotherapy is simply use of medicines to treat cancer. Why should these hurt? Yes, these medicines do have some side effects(like nausea and hair loss) but it is not any kind of pain.

Question 4

what is chemotherapy? how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Name for drugs used: Drugs used for Cancer treatment are often called chemotherapy. These are basically chemicals, many of them synthetic, others derived from natural sources like plans and herbs.

Question 5

is the chemotherapy a risky thing to do?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Chemotherapy has many potential risks. The potential adverse events and dose limiting toxicities should be discussed the your cancer physician and team. The important concept is understanding the "risk/benefit ratio". That is, what potential benefit is worth the risks?  Also, what alternatives are available?

Question 6

if you have chemotherapy can you have kids?

Accepted Answer

Yes: This is a great question!  chemotherapy can damage your eggs or sperm, so it's vital that you talk about your desire to have children before starting chemotherapy!  men can bank sperm before chemotherapy and women can bank eggs/embryos.  Many types of chemotherapy can make you infertile depending on your age, but you can safely have children later if you've planned ahead and stored your "stuff"!

Question 7

what risks are associated with chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

There are a few: Chemotherapy has side effects but they can be controlled with counter drugs. Side effects may come in the form of nausea, vomiting, hair loss, low blood counts which can lead to infections. So a close monitoring is required and antidotes to prevent these side effects are used as needed.

Question 8

is it a sure thing that chemotherapy will work?

Accepted Answer

No: The chance of chemotherapy working depends on a number of factors including -- tumor type, stage, prognostic factors as well as host (patient) characteristics such as age, genetics, etc.

Question 9

what are common chemicals used in chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Lots of them!: cancer chemotherapy has a very large number of chemicals/drugs that are used...at least over 100 are commonly used drugs at present, many older ones have been discarded as better ones came along.
Why do you ask this question?

Question 10

what is topical chemotherapy? and when is it used?

Accepted Answer

Topical chemotherapy: Chemotherapy refers to the treatment of conditions with drugs, and often is applied to the use of anti-cancer agents (but may also be applied to others). Topical means that it is applied directly to the lesion in question and is not taken systemically (by mouth or injection) and meant to get the lesion through the blood stream. Hope this is clear. Good luck.

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Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy

A member asked:

Is it possible to have chemotherapy while traveling out of state? my mom is currently undergoing chemotherapy for stage iii colon cancer. she lives in ny, by herself, and my siblings and i do not live close. i live in phoenix, and want her to visit for

A member asked:

Does chemotherapy affect eyesight?

A member asked:

How severely does chemotherapy hurt?

A member asked:

What is chemotherapy? how does it work?

A member asked:

Is the chemotherapy a risky thing to do?

A member asked:

If you have chemotherapy can you have kids?

A member asked:

What risks are associated with chemotherapy?

A member asked:

Is it a sure thing that chemotherapy will work?

A member asked:

What are common chemicals used in chemotherapy?

A member asked:

What is topical chemotherapy? and when is it used?

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