A typical course of chemotherapy involves a number of treatment sessions or cycles and usually takes between 3 to 6 months.

A single treatment administration session could last anywhere between a few minutes and several hours depending on which drug and the number of drugs you receive and how they are administered.

Chemotherapy drugs can be given in many different ways, and the method in which you receive chemotherapy is dependent on the drug used to treat the type of cancer you have, potential side effects of treatment and is also dependent on what stage your cancer is. The most common methods for receiving chemotherapy are intravenous injections and oral medication but can also be given by subcutaneous, intrathecal, or intracaviraty injections and topical ointments.
Depending on your particular treatment, intravenous chemotherapy can be given through different pieces of equipment such as a cannula or PICC line which are usually connected to a drip or a pump.

Blood tests are performed to check the numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets and also to check your kidneys and liver are working well. If your blood cells numbers are too low, treatment may be delayed.

Brief periods of exercise can help build energy levels, for example small sessions of yoga have been shown to be beneficial. Other suggestions include simply walking the dog and going for leisurely strolls. Only do as much exercise as you want to do or can manage comfortably. Quite often the best thing to do is simply rest. Ask about available physiotherapist programmes and exercise groups for you to take part in.

The best practice is to contact your doctor immediately or use the emergency contact number at any sign of infection; fevers are strongly associated with infections so it is important you inform your treatment team if you are developing a fever.

Chemotherapy does not always cause hair loss. Some drugs cause only slight thinning of the hair and others do not cause hair loss at all. Your treatment team will make you aware of all possible side affects you may experience as a result of your treatment.

Feeling sick from chemotherapy is another common side-effect, however not all chemotherapy drugs will make you feel that way. It is likely that if you feel sick after the first administration of your chemotherapy drug, you will feel that way after subsequent administrations. Your doctor will be able to prescribe additional medications to manage any nausea and/or vomiting.

Diarrhoea can be a common-side effect of treatment; you must contact your doctor if you are also suffering from a fever or if your diarrhoea cannot be controlled with anti-diarrhoeals within 48 hours and also if you are having more than 6 episodes a day.

You must contact the emergency number as soon as possible if you are unable to drink liquids. You may be prescribed strong painkillers if you are having difficulty eating and drinking. Maintaining good oral hygiene whilst you are receiving chemotherapy can help deal with sore mouth, your dentist may also be able to provide some additional advice.

You may experience some side-effects with targeted therapy but they are usually mild, although this is not always the case, and can go away once the body is used to the drug. The most common side-effects are allergic reactions such as rashes

You need to tell your doctor about any existing drugs you are taking or plan to take so they are aware of any potential interactions and can advise accordingly. These include medications for other diseases such as diabetes and various heart conditions but also over-the-counter vitamin, herbal or food supplements.

It is important that you try to maintain a normal balanced healthy diet as you undergo your treatment. Your doctor or a dietician will give you the best advice and support when choosing and maintaining a healthy diet so you can keep your up strength during treatment.