Medical Oncology

CARTI’s team of expert medical oncologists have the collective experience to treat all types of adult cancers and blood disorders. Together they utilize the most advanced forms of medical oncology, including surgical oncology and chemotherapy to create an individualized treatment plan for each patient.

Understanding Chemotherapy

One of the predominant forms of treatment in cancer care is chemotherapy (also called chemo). This is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. 

But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines, or cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. Often, side effects get better, or go away after chemotherapy is over.

Depending on your type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can:

Benefits of Chemotherapy

Sometimes, chemotherapy is used as the only cancer treatment. But more often you will receive chemotherapy treatment along with surgery and radiation therapy. With the use of chemotherapy, doctors can:

Drug Choices

The type of chemotherapy drugs your doctor chooses for your particular diagnosis depends upon a few factors, including:

Where Treatment Happens

The geographic place where you receive chemotherapy treatments can vary, depending on the regimen selected by you and your physician. You may receive chemotherapy during a hospital stay, at home, or in a doctor’s office, clinic or outpatient unit in a hospital (which means you do not have to stay overnight). 

No matter where you go for chemotherapy, the doctors and nurses at CARTI will keep a close watch for side effects, quickly making any needed drug changes based on your reaction to the drugs.

The frequency and interval of chemotherapy treatments also differs from patient to patient. As treatment schedules for chemotherapy vary widely, how often and how long you receive chemotherapy treatments depends on:

How Chemotherapy is Given

A common way to receive chemotherapy is in cycles. A cycle is a period of chemotherapy treatment followed by a period of rest. For instance, you might receive one week of chemotherapy followed by three weeks of rest. These four weeks make up one cycle. The rest period gives your body a chance to build new healthy cells.

Chemotherapy may be given in many ways, including:

Chemotherapy Through an IV

Chemotherapy is often given through a thin needle that is placed in a vein on your hand or lower arm. Your nurse will put the needle in at the start of each treatment and remove it when treatment is over. Let your doctor or nurse know right away if you feel pain or burning while you are getting IV chemotherapy.

IV chemotherapy is often given through catheters or ports, sometimes with the help of a pump.

When making an appointment, staff members will be able to discuss insurance coverage and ways to make your care affordable. CARTI accepts CareCredit for eligible patients – learn more here.

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