Infusion Services
Benefits of IV Therapy
Your hematologist or cancer doctor may prescribe infusion therapy (also called IV therapy) as part of your treatment. With infusion therapy, you come to the clinic to receive medicine directly into your bloodstream through a needle or catheter.
Benefits of IV therapy include:
- An alternate option — Patients may need an infusion if they can’t take drugs by mouth.
- Blood disorder treatment — Infusions help deliver medication for blood clotting disorders.
- Increased effectiveness — Some drugs are more effective when given as an infusion.
- More control — Drip infusions offer a controlled way to give more or less medicine or fluid
Our Infusion Services
Both of our infusion center locations offer a full line of infusion services. The medicine you receive during the infusion depends on your condition and what your hematologist or oncologist prescribes.
You can always expect to receive the safe, quality infusion care you need for treatment. For our patients with cancer, we follow National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, which are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and leading authorities from the American College of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Our goal is to make your infusion experience the best it can be. You’ll find:
- Multiple infusion bays, so it’s easy to schedule an appointment time that works for you
- Private areas to receive your infusion, each with a television
- Comfortable treatment chairs with memory foam and radiant heat panels
- Free snacks and beverages for you and your guest*
- Wi-Fi available throughout the center
- An in-house lab and pharmacy for faster access to the infusion medications you need
*For the health and safety of our immunocompromised patients, we allow one support person (ages 16 and older) per patient.
Infusion Center Locations
Use our infusion services conveniently located at our Cancer Center Los Gatos and Cancer Center Mountain View locations.
Your Infusion Care Team
Your infusion care team is ready to help from your first scheduled visit to your last dose of treatment. We’re devoted to you. Our registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners, and medical and nursing assistants are certified to provide specialized oncology nursing care to patients with cancer and hematology needs. They’re not just familiar with the infusion care setting — they’re trained and certified to provide this care.
Receive Infusion Services
If your treatment plan calls for infusion services, you’ll get everything you need ahead of time, so you know exactly what to expect.
How to Prepare for Infusion
Before your first infusion, we schedule an appointment with you to review important information. This visit is specific to you, so you learn about the drugs you’ll receive during your infusions, what to expect and how to manage any possible side effects. We also give you written materials, including a new patient packet, as well as amenities to make your infusion experience a little easier.
During Infusion
During infusion, you receive medication and dosing specific to your treatment plan. Typically, we prepare your medication the day of your infusion at our in-house pharmacy. The length of your infusion depends on your specific treatment, but it can range from 30 minutes to several hours.
Possible Infusion Side Effects
Some infusion medications can cause side effects. Your nurse will go over those with you before your infusion and may give you pre-medication or fluids to help offset the side effects.
Possible infusion side effects can include:
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Hair loss
- Itching or redness at the injection site
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
Your infusion nurse is available throughout the infusion to answer any questions and make sure you’re comfortable.