What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to restrict cancer cell production. With chemo, we want to kill fast-growing cancer cells and protect as many healthy cells as possible. Your treatment plan may include chemotherapy by itself or with other treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy.
What to Expect During Chemotherapy
You receive either oral chemotherapy or chemotherapy as an infusion, also called IV therapy. Both Cancer Center locations at El Camino Health have infusion centers, with private, comfortable infusion bays.
If you receive infusions, on infusion days, we prepare your specific chemotherapy medication in our in-house pharmacy. Then, you receive the medication directly into your bloodstream through a needle or catheter. How long the infusion takes depends on your specific treatment, but it can range from 30 minutes to several hours.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
The side effects of chemotherapy vary by patient, cancer and treatment but may include:
- Brain fog
- Changes in bowel habits
- Decreased blood count (cytopenia), including anemia
- Extreme tiredness
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Nerve damage or pain
Just as we consider every treatment available to figure out what’s best for your cancer, we also find ways to manage any side effects. You may benefit from anti-nausea medications, pain medication, IV hydration or restorative supportive services.
Your Cancer Care Team
During all your cancer care, including chemotherapy, you can expect the full support of your cancer care team. Always feel free to talk to your experienced medical oncologist, or your other doctors, nurses, social workers and dietitians. We’re all here to support you physically, mentally and emotionally as you face the challenges of cancer.
Leading-Edge Targeted Therapies
In addition to using well-established drugs for various types of cancer, we offer targeted systemic chemotherapy — an advanced level of care uncommon among community hospitals. With targeted therapy, we look at your cells in a lab. Then, we create a mixture of drugs that specifically targets those cells.
Our medical oncologists at El Camino Health Cancer Center have a lot of experience caring for patients and conducting research. We’re constantly in pursuit of new ways to treat cancer. Leading-edge chemotherapy means you get the medication designed to treat your cancer type.
Cancer Patient Stories
Sometimes, it helps to learn from others who’ve had cancer. Read and watch stories from cancer patients who share their experiences with diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Chemo Helps Treat Agostino’s Leukemia
Agostino and his wife, Gayle, received the shocking diagnosis that he had leukemia, and without treatment, only three to six months to live. After chemotherapy, 86-year-old Agostino is in remission for the second time and ready to rejoin his teammates on the soccer field.
Laura Takes Charge of High-Risk Breast Cancer
What Laura thought was a clogged milk duct turned out to be stage III breast cancer. She’s now cancer-free, thanks to chemo, radiation, breast reconstruction surgery and a strong support system.