How is chemotherapy given?
Chemotherapy is usually given on an outpatient basis. The medication is administered through a vein in your arm. A specially trained nurse remains with you at all times while your chemotherapy is infusing. You may receive other medications before and during your chemotherapy which are designed to minimize and relieve side effects. There are several chemotherapy medications that work to kill lung cancer and often a combination of two of these medications is prescribed. The specific medication or combination of medications you receive will be selected based on your tumor type and your medical history. Exact doses of each medication will be calculated using your weight, height and lab values. Some chemotherapy drugs are available in pill or capsule form and can be taken at home.
Chemotherapy drugs can be given in the following ways: • By mouth in tablet, capsule or liquid form. • Intravenously (often called I.V.) through a vein. A fine needle is inserted into a vein in the hand or lower arm at the beginning of each treatment and removed at the end of the treatment. • Intravenously‘,CAPTIONFONTCLASS,’glossaryCaptionFontClass’,TEXTFONTCLASS,’glossaryBodyFontClass’,WIDTH, 200, BORDER, 0, ABOVE, LEFT, OFFSETX, 0);” onclick=”gotoGlossary(‘intravenously’)” onmouseout=”return nd();” class=”glossaryItem”>Intravenously through a catheter. A catheter is a soft, flexible tube that is placed in a large vein and remains there as long as necessary for treatment. The catheter usually is placed in the upper chest. Sometimes a catheter is attached to a “port” – a tiny disk with an opening – that is placed under the skin. • Topically‘,CAPTIONFONTCLASS,’glossaryCaptionFontClass’,TEXTFONTCLASS,’glossaryBodyFontClass’,WIDTH, 200, BORDER, 0, ABOVE, LEFT, OFFSETX,
Chemotherapy can be given: • Intravenously (IV), • By mouth in the form of a pill, • With a shot (injection), or • By intrathecal and intraventricular injection (meaning into the spinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord or brain). Many types of chemotherapy can be given at home. Through instruction, you and your family members can learn how to administer chemotherapy in pill form or by injection with small syringes and needles similar to those that people with diabetes use to administer insulin. In some cases, a nurse will administer chemotherapy in an outpatient clinic. In other cases, it may be necessary to go to the hospital to receive treatment. Chemotherapy is typically given in cycles, which is a treatment followed by a period of rest. A cycle can last one or more days, but is usually one, two, three, or four weeks long. A course of chemotherapy is comprised of multiple cycles. Each course is different, but generally consists of four to six cycles. It may take a relatively short
Chemotherapy can be given: • By mouth in tablets, capsules, or liquid form. • Intravenously (often called IV). Chemotherapy is delivered through a vein. A fine needle is inserted into a vein in the hand or lower arm at the beginning of each treatment and removed at the end of the treatment. • By IV through a catheter. A catheter is a soft, flexible tube that is placed in a large vein and remains there as long as necessary for treatment. The catheter is usually placed in the upper chest. Sometimes a catheter is attached to a ‘port’ – a tiny disk with an opening – that is placed under the skin. • Topically. Medication is applied directly onto the surface of the skin. • By injection with a needle and syringe.
