Where you can have chemotherapy
Patients may get Chemotherapy in various ways, depending on the type of chemotherapy: in a Chemotherapy care centre, in an outpatient clinic, during a hospital stay, or at home.
1. Chemotherapy day-care centres
Chemotherapy can be taken at day-care centres. Healthcare professionals in Chemotherapy day-care centres take samples of your blood, give you Chemotherapy and monitor you for side effects. They will also provide you and your family with information and assistance. The nurses work to ensure that the unit has a relaxed atmosphere and that the patient is comfortable. If you need to relax, there are usually recliner seats and some beds. Often, a relative or friend can stay with you while you are being treated. Some units also have additional therapists who include services including massage and Reflexology.
A Chemotherapy session may take from half an hour to a few hours. However, you may have to wait for Blood Tests results, Chemotherapy drugs to be prepared and checked and to see the oncologist.
2. Chemotherapy in hospital
Some Chemotherapy treatments may take longer time. You may need to stay in the hospital for a night or a couple of days, to have your treatment. This is necessary if:
- You need to receive the drug very slowly and in a controlled way
- You may need to have fluids through a drip a few hours before or after the medication you have
- If you have a reaction to the drug, your doctor wants you to be monitored during the treatment
- You need to have the drug several times a day for a couple of days in a row
3. Chemotherapy at home
Chemotherapy at home may be chosen by individuals to avoid the fear of travelling to a treatment facility. ZenOnco.io works diligently on bringing to your doorstep, one of the most common Cancer Treatment procedures. Taking advantage of the advances in medical technology, ZenOnco.io uses all available tools to tailor the care and deliver it to the patient in need.
We allocate an experienced healthcare professional, after consulting with the oncologist. They administer dosages of medication and stay with you for the duration of the procedure. The treatment can last between half an hour and a few hours. Generally, the treatment is given with portable infusion pumps or tablets.
The portable infusion pump is a pouch with the injection tube, containing the medicines to be injected into the body, by inserting the other end of the tube to a vein. It usually takes a few hours to complete the procedure without any complications. The tube is flushed to see if it is all working well. Then, the tube injects a vitamin solution into the body. The Chemotherapy drug eventually goes into the body.
There is nothing to worry about taking Chemotherapy at home, as the specially trained health care professionals can deal with any complications or anxieties that might occur during the process. When something ever goes wrong, doctors on call are available round the clock for consultation.
Safety measures for taking Chemotherapy at home:
Chemotherapy must be performed in a clean environment, if not in a sterile environment. Since there is a high risk of infection with the low immunity levels of the patient, extra care helps to prevent unintended complications of health.
Cancer drugs can come into contact with caregivers accidentally during administration. Hence adequate use of protective gloves and clothing should be done. Clothes and linen for the patient have to have separate washing arrangements.
The Chemotherapy drugs will be present in the body for 48-72 hours after Chemotherapy is administered. The patient must also take care to use the washroom safely at home and have the area regularly cleaned.
In case the drug spills over the skin, there is a high risk of discomfort or rashes occurring. Wash the area with soap and water, quickly.
