You’d give up almost anything for a chance to beat your cancer. And many treatments will test your resolve to do just that. Hair loss is one of the sacrifices most-often associated with chemo and radiation. Here’s what you can expect.
If you were told that the same type of chemotherapy that is done in a hospital could be done in pill form, what would you think? Believe it or not, it does exist. Oral chemotherapy, more convenient but just as effective as regular chemotherapy, is becoming a more common method for patients to receive the benefits of chemo from their own homes.
Oral chemotherapy is taken as either a pill or a liquid, just like any other medication, and while it isn’t a substitute for hospital visits, it can make visits less frequent. In addition, the pills can treat many different cancers, including lung, prostate, and kidney.
It does come with some financial problems, one of which being that it is treated by most insurance companies as a drug and not as a medical procedure. Another problem is that the time gap between getting the prescription to getting the physical bottle of pills can take up to two weeks.
Things to know about oral chemotherapy
However, if you still want to start taking oral chemotherapy, here are some tips to follow:
Taking oral chemotherapy: More convenient and just as effective. The pills give the same effect on your body as if you were receiving chemo normally, so prepare for strong medication.
The pills can produce some side effects: Just like normal chemo, you can experience nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
Follow the directions on the bottle: Knowing exactly what amount of medication to take and when can keep your body safe, and following a strict regimen is key. Proper storage of the drugs is also important.
The most important fact of all:
These pills do not replace doctor visits or appointments to oncologists, because you will need to be scanned and tested to ensure the pills are achieving the same results on your body as traditional chemotherapy. But if you like the idea of having a home option for chemotherapy, these pills might be right for you.
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