|
What to know about Oral Chemo Therapies
Oral chemo’s may be right for some people but not for others. Oral chemotherapies may have bad side effects. It is important to take all medications as ordered by your caregiver so that it can help cure your cancer.
Before beginning oral chemo, you should discuss your concerns and questions with your caregiver, this includes consulting the qualified specialty doctors of Pharmacy at BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy.
How Does Chemotherapy Work?
In your body, there are healthy cells that divide and grow to make more healthy cells. Cancer cells do not divide and grow normally. Cancer cells multiply much more quickly than normal cells. This is how they take over normal cells. Your body can not fight off these cancer cells because they grow so rapidly.
Chemotherapy prevents cancer cells from growing and dividing. Chemo may also prevent the spread of cancer to other parts of your body. Chemo directly attacks these rapidly dividing cells. The bad news is that chemo also harms healthy cells. These cells will usually repair themselves when you are done with chemo.
How Long Will I Need To Use Oral Chemo?
Your caregiver will decide how long you will need to take your chemo. The kind of cancer you have will affect how long you will take your chemo. Different chemos may be used together.
Oral chemo directions range from Daily, Weekly, once or twice a month, or even several times per day. Length of therapy may be from several months or longer and is often given in cycles. This means you will take your chemo for a period of time and then take a break from it. This will allow your body to grow new, healthy cells.
How Will I Feel After I Take My Chemo?
You may be tired for a few days or longer after you begin, even to tired to work or perform other activities. You may feel nauseated and experience vomiting. Follow your caregivers instructions about rest and activity after treatments.
What Are The Side Effects Of Chemotherapy?
- Blood Problems such as anemia
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Flu-like Symptoms
- Hair Loss
- Infection—Chemo harms healthy white blood cells.
- Kidney or Bladder Problems
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Nerve and Muscle Problems
- Pain
- Poor Appetite
- Problems with memory or mood
- Sexual problems
- Skin Problems
Oral chemotherapy is becoming a growing choice for numerous types of cancer. As the CancerRxASSIST specialists we wanted to offer a brief insight into these treatments.
Facing cancer is, without doubt, one of the scariest things that one can do. We feel it is crucial that you do so with sufficient education and support. Our free services are here to support you. Our staff of Specialty Doctors of Pharmacy are available and ready to discuss your concerns and offer guidance. Our insurance specialists can even deal with your insurance for you and work directly with your prescriber.
You can also email your questions, which will be shared with our Cancer Advisory Board of physicians across the country who will then share their responses with you and all others in need.
| 
