PostsOral chemotherapy refers to the drugs administered orally as part of an extended or comprehensive drug treatment. There are multiple ways of applying the principles of chemotherapy for the treatment of various health conditions. Nowadays, due to progress in cancer treatments and research, patients benefit from many different types of chemotherapy that can be taken in as tablet, liquid or capsule. Thus oral chemotherapy refers to any drug administered by mouth. The effects of pills remains identical to that of intravenous medication for instance, with the specification that they are more likely to trigger adverse reactions because of the impact on the digestive tract.
Some chemotherapy drugs can never be taken orally as they cannot be absorbed in the stomach or they can cause harm if swollen. So as to avoid side effects, many anti-cancer drugs are administered intravenously through a line. In the case of oral chemotherapy, the treatment has the advantage that the patient can follow it at home.
A good way to organize oral chemotherapy is in cycles of administration. Thus, the possibility to damage healthy cells is reduced and drugs are allowed to destroy more cancerous cells. Obviously, it is for the doctor to establish the periodicity of the treatment whether daily, weekly or monthly. Anyway, there should be a patient-doctor discussion concerning the advantages and disadvantages of a treatment scheme so that the patient may know what to expect. Only when one informed and convinced of the efficiency of the treatment, can one decide to begin it.
Although oral chemotherapy drugs are not as strong as the others and although they do not affect the patients’ stomach, there are side effects of the treatment here too. Tiredness for a few days after beginning the treatment, nausea and vomiting, possible change in the amount of blood cells – anemia, lower capability of the blood to clot, diarrhea or constipation, flu-like symptoms, hair loss, increased risk of infection, kidney or bladder problems, mouth, gum and throat sores, pains, and nerve and muscle problems, are some of the long list of side effects of oral chemotherapy, just the same as those of any other form of chemotherapy treatments. For any of these side effects it is advisable that patients address their doctors for advice and help.
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