PATIENT EDUCATION
Overview
This page is intended to familiarize you with all aspects of chemotherapy to better prepare you for this cancer treatment. Many people think chemotherapy is hair loss, nausea and fatigue, but what they fail to realize is the amazing results this treatment has on killing cancer and saving lives.
Antineoplastic agents, more commonly known as chemotherapy agents have long had a reputation for their toxic effects on the body. When healthy cells are damaged there are negative effects, but the real damage being done is to the abnormal cells that cause cancer.
There are three goals associated with the most commonly used chemotherapy agents, to damage the affected cancer cells; inhibit the synthesis of new DNA strands to stop cells from replicating and aiding tumors growth; and to stop the mitotic or splitting processes of a cell.
Chemotherapy agents have a common approach to decrease the growth rate of cancerous cells, but as mentioned earlier healthy cell damage is unavoidable. Side effects are therefore seen in bodily systems with a naturally high turnover of cells. For instance, damaged skin cells and hair follicle cells cause hair loss, gastrointestinal epithelium causes nausea, and bone marrow and platelet damage can cause infections and problems with clotting.
Chemotherapy agents do react different in different bodies, but the side effects usually stay the same. You can expect to experience a wide array of symptoms as the chemotherapy works to eliminate cancer from the body:
- Loss of appetite
- Change in taste
- Nausea
- Hair loss
- Flaky skin
- Fatigue
- Sterility
- Depressed immune system
- Permanent damage to kidneys, lungs, heart or reproductive system
Side effects will vary depending on the individual and there are things you can do to ease the negative side effects of chemotherapy. A well balanced diet and regular exercise does wonders for your body and your mind. In addition there are therapies and medications available to help combat the side effects.
Categories of Chemotherapeutics
In general, chemotherapeutic agents can be divided into three main categories based on how they act.
- Agents that damage the DNA of an abnormal cell disrupt the replication of the DNA so it can’t grow.
- Agents that stop the synthesis of DNA precursors block some step in the formation of nucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides that are necessary for making DNA. These cells can no longer replicate because they can’t make the DNA without the nucleotides.
- Agents effect the synthesis or breakdown of the mitotic spindles. These spindles are important because they help split the newly copied DNA so that a copy goes to each of the two new cells during cell division.
With the good comes the bad, but in the case of chemotherapy, the good far outweighs the bad. Every day there are new advancements in chemotherapy and new ways to help individuals cope with this treatment from both a physical and mental perspective.
Drugs
To learn more about chemotherapy and the drugs our doctors utilize in combating cancer, visit Chemocare.com. Because we believe knowledge is power in the fight against cancer, we highly recommend this resource. You will find this information supplements the knowledge our nurses and doctors provide you in understanding your condition and treatment; including drug side-effects, drug acronyms, and self-care tips.
Teaching Nurse
Everyday, we make it our goal to make sure patients are well informed because the more you know about cancer and chemotherapy, the more you can help in your treatment. That’s why Regional Consultants is the only practice in the area with a certified oncology teaching nurse. This is a tremendous resource for both our patients and our nursing staff. To see some of the topics that our oncology nurse discusses with patients click here…