Chemotherapy: educational program for patients
How to survive chemotherapy
AdVita Foundation
"What should I ask the doctor about before starting treatment? How to prepare for all this? What is waiting for me at all?" – these, in general, simple questions stump every patient. We have collected all the most important answers in one text so that anyone who is faced with the need to undergo this difficult but necessary treatment has the opportunity to prepare.
Well, what is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a medicinal (chemical) effect on all rapidly dividing, that is, oncological cells. Today it is the most common method of treating oncological diseases both in Russia and in the world. Classical chemotherapy proceeds from the fact that cancer cells divide faster than others and by aggressively acting on these rapidly dividing cells, or rather, destroying them, you can defeat the tumor. The task of chemotherapy is to kill tumor cells, reduce the size of the tumor and alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
As a rule, chemotherapy is a combination of several medications that are administered to the patient intravenously or given in the form of tablets. What medications will be used in the treatment, how and in what doses is regulated by the protocol of treatment of the disease. All studied oncological diseases in most clinics around the world are treated according to uniform protocols written on the basis of large-scale scientific and clinical studies, which summarize knowledge about the disease, existing drugs and statistics of their successful use. The more doctors and clinics participated in the creation of the protocol, the more likely it is that it really is the best possible.
The protocol is an algorithm of the doctor's actions for each day of the patient's treatment. They are developed by large, sometimes multinational, groups of clinics based on the results of treatment of large groups of patients. As a rule, each clinic has approved (used) treatment protocols for treating various oncological diseases.
Chemotherapy operates on the principle of "die all the bad" – under the influence of toxic drugs, harmful cancer cells die. Alas, by killing the bad, chemistry also affects everything else, that is, it affects the body as a whole. That is why any person needs preparation for the beginning of a course of chemotherapy: both moral and medical.
It is important to know: even before chemotherapy begins, the so–called premedication should take place - a sequence of procedures and prescriptions designed to reduce the negative effects of chemotherapy itself. We are talking about drugs that are administered before the "chemistry" has begun: as a rule, this is a cocktail of antiemetics, drugs for allergic reactions, etc. According to most doctors who consider quality of life an extremely important part of treatment, good premedication is necessary. It makes chemotherapy safer and less uncomfortable.
Of course, no general story can answer all the questions that crowd each other in the head of anyone who finds himself facing the beginning of chemotherapy, a patient. In addition, there is nothing surprising in the fact that, even having the opportunity to talk to the attending doctor, the patient will be nervous. That is why, together with oncologist Mikhail Laskov, we have compiled a list of questions that will help you prepare for an exhaustive conversation before starting chemotherapy.
Mikhail Laskov
1. Which chemotherapy regimen (which protocol) will be used in my case?
2. What drugs are included in it?
3. How long will each course of chemotherapy last?
4. How many courses are we planning in total?
5. How, when and by what criteria will we evaluate the results of chemotherapy?
6. When should the next visit take place?
7. Can we schedule the date of the control examination now? If not, what kind of planning horizon are we talking about.
8. How (when it comes to intravenous administration) will I be injected with chemotherapy drugs? Will it be necessary to install a port system or a PEAK catheter?
9. Will my hair fall out?
10. What other side effects from treatment with these drugs and how can this be dealt with? Are there any additional medications that will ease my condition between courses of chemotherapy?
11. If we are talking about outpatient (that is, without hospitalization) treatment, then what to do in emergency cases: who to call, what to say, what should relatives be ready for?
12. What expenses do I expect? For a specific course, and all the treatment? Can there be emergency unforeseen expenses? Does it make sense for me to apply abroad? To another clinic in Russia? For what purpose?
13. And finally, the most important thing: how will the chosen treatment regimen affect my usual daily life: will I be able to work? Be with the kids? Do household chores? What can I/cannot eat, drink? Is it possible for me to rest. My habits, what's wrong with them (hunting, sauna, etc.?) In short, how much will the upcoming treatment knock me out of my usual rut and how soon will I be able to return there again?
We recommend carefully writing down these answers in a notebook. And to reread when fear, impotence and despair are approaching – by the way, completely normal conditions for a person who is undergoing chemotherapy.
And here are recommendations on what to do during treatment in order to make it at least a little easier.
– If you feel sick between meals, then try to eat small portions, but often.
– Drink clear drinks: broth, apple compote. Hot can make you sick more, try to drink chilled.
– Eat the food that doesn't make you sick. Some patients are more sick of meat products, they can be replaced with fish, beans, chicken broth.
– Food should be at room temperature, avoid strong-smelling and food with a sharp taste.
– Try to eat high-calorie and at the same time easy to eat food: puddings, ice cream, yoghurts, milkshakes. in small portions
– If you do not suffer from stomatitis, pay attention to acidic foods – they are easier to eat with nausea.
– Try to use sucking candies (menthol, with lemon) – sometimes it helps to fight nausea.
– Try drinking tea with ginger.
– Try not to eat lying down. Within an hour after eating, sit or walk, do not lie down.
– Distract yourself from nausea: watch TV, communicate with loved ones.
– If you feel sick, try to relax and take deep breaths.
– If there is severe vomiting, drink electrolyte drinks, for example, Powerade.
– If you have severe weakness after chemotherapy, try to intersperse rest and housework.
– Try to plan your day so that you can do everything at a time when you have more energy. Keep a diary.
– Get enough sleep. During the day, you can take a nap if you feel tired.
– If it's hard for you to cope around the house alone, ask your family and friends to help: go to the store, clean up, cook food.
– Do not forget that it is necessary to eat. Make sure that your diet includes protein foods: meat, eggs, beans or peas, cheese, and try to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.
– Sometimes it helps to fight weakness ...physical activity. Try to do some exercises.
If you are reading this text because one of your loved ones is sick, then we want to give one more piece of advice: do not forget to tell this person what a good fellow and fighter he is, how steadfastly he endures treatment and how proud you are of him.
If you are reading this text because you are a patient yourself, then we responsibly declare to you: you are a hero and a fighter!
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