You have been told you have lung cancer. You may receive chemotherapy soon. In this video, we will explain what chemotherapy is and what you can expect of your treatment.
Chemotherapy is medicine use to treat cancer. The medication is usually given through an IV drip. The purpose of the treatment is to kill cancer cells and slow down their growth. For lung cancer, chemotherapy is given in several ways. Together with your physician you decide what mode and form of chemotherapy is best for you. You may receive chemotherapy as follow-up treatment after an operation or combined with other treatments such as immunotherapy. The frequency and duration of your chemotherapy treatment depends on the type of lung cancer, the stage of your illness and how effective the treatment proves to be for you.
You may receive chemotherapy as a cure for your lung cancer or as a life-extending treatment. If you can’t be cured, chemotherapy may help to reduce pain or relieve symptoms.
Just like any other medication, chemotherapy may cause side effects. This is not pleasant. For example Christina experiences a lot of nausea. And Tobias is very fatigued. Hans is now wearing a hairpiece because he was losing his hair. Before you start your treatment, the hospital will prescribe medication to prevent certain side effects. It is important to discuss all of your symptoms with your pulmonologist or nurse throughout the treatment. They will be able to recommend ways of coping with them. For example Christina has reduced her portion size at meal times and is taking pills to relieve nausea. And Tobias lies down in the afternoon to save his energy for evening activities. If you are severely affected by one or more side effects, consult your pulmonologist about the possibility of stopping the chemotherapy sooner. This is always an option to consider!
In the past, all patients with lung cancer received chemotherapy. Nowadays we are much better equipped to adjust treatment to your individual situation. It is important to realize that chemotherapy doesn’t necessarily confine you to bed and doesn’t keep you from enjoying life. You may feel under the weather or experience tiredness for the first few days or weeks after treatment. But many people can then return to doing all kinds of activities. For example Maartje goes to the movies with friends every now and then. And Younes takes his dog for a walk every day.
There is a lot more information about chemotherapy. Do you want to learn more? Ask your pulmonologist or nurse. Or visit www.longkankernederland.nl/chemotherapie
