Chemo and myths around it

Dr Siddharth Kumar Sahai

Advertisement

Most of the patients suffering from cancer require chemotherapy as part of their treatment. It may be required before or after surgery, with or without radiotherapy. Chemotherapy works by stopping the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. As this killing is not limited to cancer cells, normal cells also get affected and patients suffer are side effects. However, these side effects are mostly short term —  patients recover with appropriate support. Nevertheless, the mere mention of chemotherapy evokes fear, which is further accentuated by myths and misconceptions floating around.

Following are a few common myths surrounding chemotherapy.

All chemotherapies are same 

The type of chemotherapy a patient is administered depends on the underlying disease and stage of cancer. For example, chemo for lymphoma will be different from the one given to a patient suffering from breast or lung cancer. The duration depends on the stage of cancer, i.e. higher the stage, more the number of cycles of chemotherapy. It’s important to understand that each disease is different and each individual is different too, so side effects as well as results vary. What a cancer patient needs is proper counselling, expert medical advice and strong psychological support from the family and society.

It causes pain, vomiting and nausea

Chemotherapy is administered intravenously via central line (Chemoport) or peripheral line. The patient suffers no pain while being administered chemo. Also, in modern times, very few patients experience nausea and/or vomiting during and after the administration of chemotherapy.

Hair loss, efficacy of treatment 

Patient may experience hair loss during chemotherapy. This depends on the type of chemotherapy. And not all patients suffer hair loss. Patients regain hair once chemotherapy is over. There is no relation between hair loss and the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Profound, prolonged loss of immunity

Chemotherapy, especially for solid tumours such as in breast, lungs and intestine, only causes a transient dip in white blood cell count for 3-4 days. At this time, a patient is susceptible to infections. This period is now being effectively managed by easy-to-use subcutaneous injections which takes care of white blood cells. There is no scientific evidence behind the assumption that chemo for solid malignancies results in prolonged immune depression.

Treatment worse than the disease

People think chemotherapy is worse than the disease and the side effects arising out of this treatment will cripple their lives for ever. In reality, most of the side effects are transient and temporary and recovery occurs with adequate mental and medical support.

— The writer senior consultant, Medical Oncology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimarbagh