Treatment

The powerful drugs used in chemotherapy don't just kill cancer cells. They can also harm healthy cells in your body. For some people, this causes unpleasant side effects. Let's learn about how chemotherapy can affect you.

Cancer treatments like traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy are designed to kill cancer cells. But they also harm healthy cells. This can cause serious side effects. Targeted therapy is a different type of treatment. It targets only the cancer cells in your body. This minimizes the damage to healthy cells.

Watch this video to learn why taking your medication as directed is important for your cancer care and quality of life.

This video will inform a patient why oral medication therapy is given and the importance of taking the medications on time and according to the schedule of this therapy.

Explains what chemotherapy is and discusses questions people may have, such as how often they will have treatment and how it will be given. Explains common side effects, why they happen, ways your healthcare providers can help you manage them, and tips for managing them at home. © National Cancer Institute

Chemotherapy can reduce the number of red blood cells in your body. When you have too few of these cells, anemia can result. Anemia has many symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of the symptoms listed here. You may need treatment.

Chemotherapy (chemo) is a treatment for cancer. Chemo can be a single medicine. Or it can be a combination of medicines. Learn how chemo works, including goals, side effects, and long-term risks.

Chemotherapy can make your blood less able to clot. This happens because the treatment lowers the number of platelets (clotting cells agents) in your blood. Your risk of bruising and bleeding increases. These tips can help prevent problem bleeding.

Chemotherapy is most often given by IV infusion (through a flexible tube placed in a vein). Depending on the type and number of medicines, the length of your IV treatment may range from hours to days.

You may have a short-term IV or a central venous catheter. Your healthcare provider will discuss which is best for your treatment.

You may have questions about how chemotherapy could affect the things you take for granted in everyday life. Here are some answers to common questions, and some of the adjustments you may need to make.

Your immune system helps detect and destroy invading germs. But because cancer cells are made from your own tissue, your immune system may not always see these cells as something that should be attacked. The goal of biological therapy, also called "immunotherapy," is to help your immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. There are several types of biological therapies. Let's look at the three main types.

Biological therapy patients are treated with substances commonly thought of as "natural." Your treatment may use proteins or other materials naturally produced by the human body. These are usually easier on your body than strong chemotherapy drugs. But biological therapy, also called "immunotherapy," does have side effects.

One type of immunotherapy uses monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). These are manufactured proteins that target specific parts of cancer cells to destroy them. mAbs are most often used along with other cancer treatments.

Immunotherapy is a way of treating disease or infection using the body's immune system. It can be used in some cases to help treat cancer. One form of immunotherapy treatment for cancer is called nonspecific immunotherapy (NSI). Learn more about NSI treatments and how they're used.

Detailed information on biological therapy, also called immunotherapy, biological response modifier therapy, or biotherapy

Radiation therapy is an effective way to destroy cancer cells. But in the process, it can also damage healthy cells in your body. This creates serious side effects for many patients.

This nonsurgical procedure uses beams of radiation to treat tumors or lesions deep inside the brain. The treatment may take several hours. Children may be given general anesthesia to keep them from moving during the procedure, but adults are usually kept awake.

This booklet is a guide you can refer to throughout radiation therapy. It includes facts about radiation therapy and side effects you may have depending on the part of your body being treated. It also highlights ways you can manage side effects. © National Cancer Institute

Learn about what happens when lung cancer spreads to the brain.

SBRT is a form of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. Read on to learn details of when it may be used, and what to expect before and after treatment.

Use these resources to help you learn about radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy can help you in your fight against cancer. It uses high-energy X-rays or particles to kill cancer cells.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or particles to kill cancer cells. This therapy can help you in your fight against cancer. Your radiation therapy team will work with you during your treatment.

Radiation therapy uses beams of high-energy X-rays or other particles to kill cancer cells. It's a common part of cancer treatment. If you and your provider decide on radiation, you'll need a treatment planning visit called a simulation.

Radiation kills cancer cells. But some normal cells can also be affected, which can result in side effects such as dry skin, fatigue, or appetite changes. Most side effects heal when your radiation therapy is over. Here's what you need to know.

Radiation therapy can help you in your fight against cancer. To feel better, get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat well. This will give your body the extra strength it needs right now. Also look to family and friends for support and comfort.

You had a procedure done to put a balloon breast brachytherapy catheter into your breast. It will be used to give you internal radiation treatment for breast cancer. The end of the catheter is in the same place the cancer was inside your breast. There's a small balloon filled with salt water (saline) on the end. Here's what you need to know about home care.

You had a procedure called prostate brachytherapy. Your healthcare provider inserted tiny radioactive seeds into your prostate. Each seed is smaller than a grain of rice. They contain radioactive material that kills the cancer. The seeds will lose their radioactivity over the next weeks and months. The seeds will stay in the prostate permanently, but will not harm you.

Follow these guidelines for home care after radiation therapy.

Detailed information on radiation therapy, one type of cancer treatment.

This surgery removes your prostate. That's the small gland between a man's bladder and penis. Let's look at surgery with the robot-assisted method. It's less invasive than traditional, open surgery.

During this procedure, your doctor removes a tumor from the inner wall of your bladder. That's the organ that holds your urine. Transurethral resection can help your doctor diagnose and treat bladder cancer.

This surgery removes one or both adrenal glands. These small glands are on top of each of your kidneys. They make hormones that are used for many body functions. You may need to have an adrenal gland removed if your doctor finds cancer or a growth in it. This surgery also helps if your adrenal glands make too many hormones.

This surgery treats tongue cancer. To get all of the cancer, a small or large part of your tongue may be removed. In some cases, the entire tongue must be removed.

This video will give the patient an idea of what Neutropenia is, and learn some ways to protect him/herself from infection.

This video will provide a person with some ways to prevent and lessen fatigue, which is a common side effect during cancer treatment.

Fatigue is a common problem for people who have cancer. It's a feeling of deep exhaustion that affects your body and your mind. It's draining, and even sleep doesn't fully refresh you. But there are things you can do. Try these simple strategies to fight fatigue.

This video will teach a patient ways to prevent, lessen, and cope with diarrhea, which is a common side effect of cancer treatment.

Watch this video to learn some ways to reduce and cope with the pain associated with cancer treatment.

Covers pain control medicines for cancer patients, pain control plans, talking with your health care team about pain, and coping with the physical and emotional effects of pain. © National Cancer Institute

This video will give a patient some ways to prevent, lessen and cope with hair loss which is a common side effect of cancer treatment.

After viewing the video, the patient will know the symptoms of depression and anxiety that commonly affect people undergoing cancer treatment, and some positive ways he or she can get help to cope.

This procedure is an injection of anesthetic into the lower back. This type of injection is used to relieve pain that does not respond to oral or IV medications.

This is a problem with the immune system. It's when your white blood cells don't make enough antibodies. What are antibodies? They're proteins that help your body fight germs. Without these antibodies, you get infections more easily than other people do.

Difficulty passing stool (constipation) is a common side effect of chemotherapy and pain medicine. It can also occur if you're not getting enough exercise and nourishment. These tips can help.

A common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment is diarrhea. This is when you have loose, watery stools or pass stool more often than usual. To help limit this problem, try these tips.

Extreme tiredness, called fatigue, is common. It can be caused by worry, lack of sleep, or low appetite. Fatigue can also be a sign of anemia, a shortage of red blood cells. Read on for some tips to help you feel better.

Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Not all types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy cause hair loss. But if it does happen, these tips can help.

Chemotherapy can make your body less able to fight off infection. This happens because treatment reduces the number of white blood cells (infection fighters) in your body. To help prevent infections, follow these tips.

Mouth sores (stomatitis) and dry mouth are common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These tips may help you feel better.

Minor nail problems are common side effects of chemotherapy. These side effects occur because the treatment affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. To manage these side effects, try these tips.

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Here are some helpful tips.

During chemotherapy, the energy provided by a healthy diet can help you rebuild normal cells. It can also help you keep up your strength and fight infection. These guidelines can help.

Minor skin problems are common side effects of chemotherapy. These side effects occur because the treatment affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. To manage these side effects, try the tips that follow.

Radiation therapy can cause several side effects. Most of them will go away once treatment ends. The ones you have depend on the location of the tumor. These tips can help you care for your skin after radiation therapy.

Cancer vaccines stimulate your immune system. They help your immune system recognize and fight viruses linked to cancer, or fight cancer cells directly. There are two types of cancer vaccines, "preventative" vaccines and "treatment" vaccines.

Bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue found inside the large bones in your body. It's where new blood cells are made. Bone marrow can be damaged by disease. It can be destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. A stem cell transplant uses healthy stem cells to rebuild your damaged bone marrow.

This treatment uses radioactive pellets called "seeds" to destroy prostate cancer cells. The seeds are implanted in your prostate. Each seed is about the size of a grain of rice.

Covers how to make informed choices when looking for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). © National Cancer Institute

PDT is a treatment that uses medicines called photosynthesizing agents and light to destroy cancer cells. It is most often used to treat certain cancers in the esophagus, lungs, and skin. Learn more about PDT and what to expect.

New vaccines are being developed for cancer. Learn more about these vaccines.

A blood transfusion is when blood or parts of the blood are given to a person through an IV line placed in a vein. The blood and blood parts used for transfusion are called blood products. The blood usually comes from another person (donor). This sheet tells you more about how blood and blood products may be used to help treat cancer.

Infusion therapy is a safe way to take medicines or fluids that can't be taken by mouth. Instead, they flow through a flexible tube (catheter) that's placed in a vein—usually on your arm or chest. This is called the infusion site.

Use this checklist to make sure you have all the things you need. If anything is missing or damaged, call the supply company right away.

Infusion therapy is a safe way to take medicines or fluids that can't be taken by mouth. Here's how to prevent infection when doing infusion therapy at home.

Your supplies need to be kept sterile. Otherwise, they aren't safe to use. Inspect, store, and dispose of supplies as directed by the nurse.