What is Chemotherapy?

At least 1.6 million people each year will be diagnosed with cancer and will undergo some type of chemotherapy. Chances are you have had some type of experience with cancer yourself. You might also be thinking, what exactly is chemotherapy?

Searching for websites dealing with descriptions of chemotherapy may leave you feeling a little intimidated. The terms, details, and images would make anyone feel the same, and even asking doctors and nurses about chemotherapy can leave your head spinning.

We developed a valuable, friendly resource page for anyone who may be asking the same questions about chemotherapy. We recommend checking out the links on our resources page to learn more chemotherapy treatments, resources for chemotherapy patients, family, and caregivers as well as products that may be beneficial throughout the chemotherapy process.

Chemotherapy FAQ’s

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a way of treating cancer. It is the most popular way of treating cancer worldwide. Chemotherapy treatments stop the cancer cells from multiplying and increasing, assists the immune system for self defense, and initiates the growth of essential enzymes in the body

Each session of chemotherapy is aimed to work in a different perspective to eliminate cancer. Often, combination of chemotherapy drugs is preferred so that cancerous cells are attacked more effectively because each medicine has its own strengths and performs differently.

Under chemotherapy, use of chemotherapy drugs or medicines is made to kill the cancer-causing cell or reduce their growth. (source)

Are the different types of Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy works well when it’s used in combination of several chemotherapy drugs. It’s usually administered orally or given intravenously to patients.

There are several different types of chemotherapy drugs that are used in treatment. These include alkylating agents, which destroy DNA; antimetabolites, which hinder the growth of RNA and DNA; anti-tumor antibiotics, which hinder DNA replication by interfering with associated enzymes; topoisomerase inhibitors, which makes DNA replication more difficult by preventing the separation of DNA strands; mitotic inhibitors, which prevent mitosis of the cells from occurring; and corticosteroids, which are used to both kill cancer cells and alleviate side effects. (source)

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Side effects vary from person to person, treatment to treatment, and can also be based on how harsh your chemotherapy medication is. These side effects will also cease once your chemotherapy treatment has stopped. Some of the most prevalent side effects include:

• Loss of Appetite
• Diarrhea, vomiting, or stomach aches
• Fatigue
• Hair Loss
• Memory Changes (or “chemo brain” as some patients call it)
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Pain
• Skin may become dehydrated and cause dryness of the mouth

To find out more side effects click here.

Why is proper clothing beneficial for chemotherapy treatment?

Wearing the proper clothing to chemotherapy treatment can benefit both patients and nurses. When patients wear loose clothing around their access area (short sleeve shirts, v-neck shirts), this helps nurses access the treatment site better and keep watch easily throughout your chemotherapy time. On the other hand, most of these generic types of clothing will leave a patient feeling exposed in front of others, as well as cold and uncomfortable. Libre products help patients stay warm and fully covered, all while keeping the chemotherapy site easily accessible for nurses. Check out our customer testimonials to see how well our clothing works during a chemotherapy treatment.