Chemotherapy: your plan and everyday life

Chemotherapy uses medicines to stop cancer cells growing or destroy them. Goals may include shrinking a tumour, reducing recurrence risk or easing symptoms. Cancer type, spread and general health guide the plan; there is no universal number of cycles or guaranteed outcome.

Medicines may be intravenous or oral; oral treatment also needs careful monitoring. A cycle may include treatment and recovery periods. Examinations and appropriate tests assess response; having more side effects does not mean treatment is working better.

Nausea, fatigue, mouth sores or hair loss vary by medicine; not everyone has each effect and some can last. Tell your team about problems; do not alter medicines yourself. Discuss nutrition and psychological support. Confirm costs and insurance separately; archived information is not a guarantee of free treatment.

Call your care team immediately for fever, chills or infection symptoms; do not wait for the next session. Suppressing fever with medicine without reporting it may hide important signs. If the team is unavailable seek urgent assessment; call 112 for severe breathlessness, chest pain or altered consciousness.