What is the final phase of chemotherapy?

First phase — induction chemotherapy. Second phase — consolidation chemotherapy. Third phase — maintenance chemotherapy. Fourth phase — central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis.

What is the 7 day rule in chemotherapy?

Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.

What is the next treatment after chemotherapy?

Maintenance therapy is the ongoing treatment of cancer with medication after the cancer has responded to the first recommended treatment. Maintenance therapy, sometimes called continuous therapy, is used for the following reasons: To prevent the cancer's return.

What happens after last chemo session?

After your last dose of chemotherapy, your white blood cell count will go down. It should start to go back to normal about a month after your last treatment. Your red blood cell count may also go down, but it should go back to normal around the same time.

How long does chemo take to get rid of cancer?

A course of chemotherapy usually takes between 3 to 6 months, although it can be more or less than that. The treatment will include one or more chemotherapy drugs.

What are induction and consolidation chemotherapy for AML?

Can cancer spread while on chemo?

While chemotherapy is one of the oldest and most successful ways of treating cancer, it doesn't always work. So, yes, cancer can spread during chemotherapy. Spreading could mean the tumor keeps growing, or that the original tumor shrinks, but cancer metastasizes, forming tumors in other areas of the body.

Does cancer grow faster after chemo?

Many of the commonly used cancer treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy, kill tumor cells. But sometimes, after those cells have died and been cleared away, a tumor will respond by growing faster and more aggressively.

What are the hardest days after chemo?

Around the third day following a chemotherapy treatment, some people may experience flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and pains. If you experience these aches, you can take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Advil. If necessary, contact your doctor for stronger medication.

How many days after chemo do you feel better?

The rule of thumb I usually tell my patients is that it takes about two months of recovery time for every one month of treatment before energy will return to a baseline. Everyone is different but at least this gives you a ballpark. This is a lot longer than most people assume.

How long after chemo Do you feel OK?

A return to normalcy is typical, but it takes a while – usually six months or so. “All who have done chemo do finally get back to normal,” Patricia said.

What are the signs that chemo is working?

You might notice an improvement in cancer symptoms, such as less pain, reduced lymph node swelling, and improved energy levels. If you use topical chemotherapy on skin lesions, the area might feel irritated and look red and swollen for the first few weeks. These are all signs that chemotherapy is working.

Which cancers are most likely to recur?

Some cancers are difficult to treat and have high rates of recurrence. Glioblastoma, for example, recurs in nearly all patients, despite treatment. The rate of recurrence among patients with ovarian cancer is also high at 85%.

Is the first week after chemo the worst?

For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment.

Can you be alone after chemo?

Yes. It will take some extra planning and working out who can support you but it's possible to continue living alone when you have cancer. Having cancer and going through treatment raises many challenges and emotions. These may be harder to deal with when you live alone.

Does chemo get worse each week?

The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle.

What makes chemo patients feel better?

Stay hydrated

Diarrhea, vomiting and other chemotherapy side effects can cause you to become dehydrated. Not only can this cause you to have low energy, but it can also cause other health issues. So, be sure to drink plenty of water during your treatment. Decaffeinated tea, juices and milk can also help.

How weak are you after chemo?

They may say they feel tired, weak, exhausted, weary, worn-out, or slow. They may say they have no energy and can't concentrate. They also talk about having heavy arms and legs, little drive to do anything, being unable to sleep or sleeping too much.

Does chemo get worse before it gets better?

Most types of pain related to chemotherapy get better or go away between individual treatments. However, nerve damage often gets worse with each dose. Sometimes the drug causing the nerve damage has to be stopped. It can take months or years for nerve damage from chemotherapy to improve or go away.

Does cancer come back stronger after chemo?

Recurrent cancer may be more aggressive than the original cancer if it's already spread to other parts of the body, or if it's become resistant to chemotherapy. The sooner the cancer returns, the more serious it likely is.

Can cancer come back right after chemo?

Sometimes after cancer treatment, cancer comes back or returns. This is called a cancer recurrence. It can happen weeks, months, or even years after the original cancer was treated. It is not possible to know for sure if cancer will come back after your treatment ends.

Can cancer spread while waiting for chemo?

You may begin to worry that the cancer will spread during this time. But we know that most cancers usually grow slowly. So waiting a few weeks for a scan or treatment does not usually affect how well the treatment works.

Is it OK to be around chemo patient?

Unless your health care team tells you differently, you can usually be around family and friends during the weeks and months you're getting chemo.

What is the most common cause of death in cancer patients?

Widespread metastases are the primary cause of death from cancer.

Can you live a normal life while on chemo?

Some people find they can lead an almost normal life during chemotherapy. But others find everyday life more difficult. You may feel unwell during and shortly after each treatment but recover quickly between treatments. You may be able to get back to your usual activities as you begin to feel better.