A medical oncologist specialises in treating cancers with chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. He or she will explain to you which chemotherapy drugs are recommended for your situation, the possible side effects, how long you may need to take chemotherapy drugs, and where you can have chemotherapy.
If you live in an area where there is no medical oncologist (such as a rural area), your GP or surgeon may manage your treatment. He or she will do this by regularly talking about your situation with a medical oncologist.
Alternatively, you may decide to travel to the nearest city or regional town for treatment that is managed by a medical oncologist.
Where will I get chemotherapy?
Usually you can have chemotherapy in a hospital or special clinic, without needing to stay overnight. Each treatment can take between half an hour and a few hours, depending on the type of drugs you’re receiving.
In some regional or rural areas, it might be possible for a specialist oncology nurse to visit you and give chemotherapy at home.
How are chemotherapy drugs given?
The most common way of having chemotherapy is by injection into a vein (intravenously or IV), but sometimes chemotherapy drugs are taken as tablets. IV treatment involves receiving the drugs by a ‘drip’ into the vein, usually on your hand or arm.
Some women have chemotherapy treatment that is a combination of tablets and IV.
Chemotherapy drugs are absorbed into the blood and travel around the body so they can find and destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Which chemotherapy drugs will I have?
There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs. Because different chemotherapy drugs kill the cancer cells in different ways, often more than one drug is used to maximise the effect of the chemotherapy. This is called combination chemotherapy. The most effective chemotherapy treatments for women with early breast cancer are ones that: use more than one drug (combination chemotherapy), and last several months.
Different chemotherapy drugs, or combinations, are used to treat different women. There is evidence that some chemotherapy drugs are slightly more effective in treating breast cancer than others, but can have worse side effects. If you’re a younger woman, it’s important to note that some chemotherapy drugs can cause permanent menopause.
If your menopause is permanent, this means that you will not be able to have children naturally.Discuss these issues with your doctor. You may want to ask him or her about the type of chemotherapy drugs recommended for you, and their possible side effects. It’s a good idea to keep a record of any chemotherapy, hormonal, or other drugs that you’re taking. This will be particularly useful if you need to change doctors at any stage.
How often will I have chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is usually given in ‘cycles’. This means you have a short period of treatment, followed by a rest period, followed by another period of treatment,and so on. During the rest period you don’t receive treatment. This gives your body a chance to rebuild healthy cells and regain strength. The length of your treatment and rest periods will depend on the type of breast cancer you have and the type of chemotherapy drugs you’re receiving. Some chemotherapy treatment programs last for 3 months, and others last for 6 months.
