Understanding Cancer Magazine
Learn to Win
Chemotherapy
BY MARCIO ALVAREZ-SILVA
Having someone, that we love been diagnosed with cancer and still starting treatment with chemotherapy is always accompanied by uncertainties and concerns.
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As we have feelings for our family and friends, it is often difficult and painful to participate in the treatment just as spectators.
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Cancer has been over time associated with a disease of extreme aggression, and practically always patients feel that their lives become frightening. A sense of urgency arises followed by many doubts and even mistrust of treatment.
One of the issues that many patients concern about is the need for chemotherapy. In general, this word frightens because of its unwanted effects. We know that this treatment has side effects that for a patient can be more of a source of apprehension. It is not uncommon for the patient to feel alone at this step of the therapy and have many uncertainties about their treatment.
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As the patient is already suffering by the diagnosis of the disease, the need for a treatment that can cause more discomfort is an additional factor of stress that can often further afflict the patient.
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However, chemotherapy is the chance for the patient to win cancer.
The treatment with chemotherapy is intense and necessary because to eliminate the cancer cells the medications used also have cellular toxicity, resulting in its side effects. The goal of treatment is the elimination of neoplastic cells, but the side effect of chemotherapy arises in a greater or lesser degree in healthy cells.
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Much of the adverse effects of chemotherapy are a result of its toxicity in healthy cells.
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However, few patients are informed that there have been many advances in the last decade, with the introduction of new drugs in chemotherapy protocols, with more effectiveness and less toxicity to healthy cells. The medicine also introduced drugs that considerably reduce the side effects and the discomfort caused by the chemotherapeutics. These advances have dramatically increased cancer treatment capacity, allowing patients to have a better quality of life.
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I have seen many patients being surprised that they expected to have much more discomfort during treatment in cases where the medications have few side effects. I've heard some patients saying that they thought their hair would fall all over, or that they might have vomiting during the session.
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Severe side effects of chemotherapy still occur in some patients. That number has been much higher in the past. In the therapeutic arsenal used in oncology, it has been possible to circumvent or significantly decrease many of the side effects.
Even if the patient still suffers from adverse effects resulting from chemotherapy, this should not be an excuse to stop treatment. Even with all the possible discomforts caused by the treatment, understanding that the side effects are the result of the drug acting on the patient's body should be an essential factor to be considered. Malignant cells are being targeted by chemotherapy, and the side effects indicate that the drugs are exerting an impact on the body.
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We always must remember that treatment with chemotherapy is a critical chance for patients to heal.
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I have already followed relatives, friends, and patients who have undergone chemotherapy in different situations. It is a problematic moment since the patient tends to feel distressed and apprehensive. It is essential to stay on the patient's side encouraging. This emotional support is crucial for patient adherence to treatment.
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Having an optimistic view of life helps significantly during chemotherapy and can cause the patient to adhere to the treatment and to adopt some healthier choices that help achieve healing, such as giving up smoking or alcohol.
This experience has shown me that we should have a sympathetic look with cancer patients during their treatment. For the patient facing the disease the support during the chemotherapy sessions makes a lot of difference, it is always very positive to have someone willing to motivate it.
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In this moment valuing the people who love us and who give us support has an exceptional meaning.
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And you who have had any relatives or friends with cancer. How was coping with chemotherapy?
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Let's share experiences. Leave your testimony.
This article was published in Understanding Cancer magazine, April 01, 2019.