Cancer Care
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About Chemotherapy

Are there any medications I should not take while on chemotherapy?

Do not take any medicine that has not been prescribed by your physician. Do not use aspirin or any products containing aspirin such as Bufferin, Anacin, cold capsules, etc., unless advised by your physician. If your pain is mild, use acetaminophen, which can be purchased at any drugstore without a prescription. Let your physician know if your pain worsens.

Can I drink alcohol while taking chemotherapy?

Ask your physician.

Can I smoke?

Smoking may cause respiratory problems and should be avoided. Ask your physician or nurse, if you need help quitting.

Should I avoid people with colds and flu?

Avoid contact with people with an infection or virus such as a cold or flu. Take special care to avoid people with active chicken pox since this can develop into a serious infection in chemotherapy patients.

How long will I receive chemotherapy?

Each case is different. Chemotherapy is given until the full effect on the cancer is seen. Chemotherapy treatments may last for several weeks, several months or several years.

Should I do anything differently while taking chemotherapy? Will I need more rest or a special diet?

The best thing you can do is use common sense. When you become tired, you should rest. Many patients on chemotherapy continue their usual jobs without problems. Try to maintain an ideal body weight and eat foods you like. Your nurse or physician will tell you if you need to follow a special diet.

Should I take shots or vitamins?

If you are eating regular meals, you may not need vitamins. It is okay to take most vitamins – check with your physician first. You should ask your physician for his or her advice.

Will chemotherapy make me sterile?

Some patients, male and female, do become sterile from chemotherapy, others do not. Whether or not you become sterile depends on your age, the type of tumor, the type of drug and the dose you receive. If you become sterile, it may be permanent or temporary. Normal reproductive function has returned in some patients who received chemotherapy. Others have remained sterile. Talk with your physician about options, such as sperm banking.

Should I avoid sexual intercourse while on chemotherapy?

There is no medical reason to avoid sexual intercourse while you are receiving chemotherapy unless you have a very low white blood count or low platelets.

Can I get pregnant while on chemotherapy?

Pregnacy should be avoided, but, you can still get pregnant even while you are getting chemotherapy. It is recommended that both male and female patients receiving chemotherapy avoid pregnancy by using birth control during sexual intercourse. Chemotherapy can cause damage to the fetus, leading to serious congenital abnormalities. Patients should discuss birth control with their physician and nurses. If you are a woman and your menstrual period stops, tell your physician.

How soon after chemotherapy ends can I try to have children?

Each situation is different. It is best to discuss this with your physician.

Can I have my teeth fixed while taking chemotherapy?

Your dentist should speak to your physician before doing any work on your teeth and gums. Try to avoid any dental work while your white blood cell count is low from a previous chemotherapy treatment. When your white blood cell count is normal, it is OK to have dental work.

Will I receive combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy?

The type of treatment you receive will depend on your situation. Your physician will consider the most advanced, up-to-date therapy for your diagnosis. If surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or biotherapy is necessary, your physician will consult experts in these areas. Ask your physician if you have any questions about possible treatments.

 

Questions About Radiation

Will radiation therapy make me sterile?

If radiation therapy is given to the ovaries or testes, it may make you permanently sterile. If radiation therapy is given to an area close to the ovaries or testes, it may make you sterile temporarily. If this is the case, the time period in which you are sterile will depend on your age and the radiation dose received by the ovaries or testes. Radiation therapy to an area of your body that is far away from your ovaries or testes should have no effect on your fertility. Your radiation oncologist will discuss this with you and advise you on the risks of sterility in your situation.

Should I avoid sexual intercourse while receiving radiation therapy?

With radiation therapy to the pelvic region, it may be necessary to avoid sexual intercourse for a short while. Your radiation oncologist will discuss this with you and advise you with regard to your specific situation.

How long will I receive radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy is given for a period of time determined by your doctor (radiation oncologist) and may be from one day up to ten weeks, depending upon the type of cancer you have. The radiation oncologist will determine this and discuss it with you.

Can I schedule my treatments and other appointments at times that are most convenient to me?

We will try to schedule your appointments and treatments at a time that suits you best. It may be that someone else is being treated at the time you would like, and you will have to wait until they finish their treatments before you can be scheduled at that time.

Will I receive my treatment the same time every day?

Your treatment will be given at the same time every day, if possible. However, sometimes maintenance or repairs are done on the machines, and you may be asked to come for your treatment at a different time. As soon as the maintenance or repairs are done, you will be treated at your normal time again.

Will the same therapists give me my treatment every day?

Usually, unless they are sick or go on vacation during the course of your treatments. The therapists usually work on a machine for several months at a time, before they move to a different machine. If one of the therapists does move to a different machine during your treatments, the other therapist and a new therapist will continue with your treatments. Your chart is designed to ensure that your treatment is given accurately by any of the therapists.

How many treatments will I have?

The number of treatments you will have will depend on what type of cancer you have and where the cancer is located in your body. Your doctor will determine the appropriate number of treatments for you and discuss the whole treatment plan with you before you begin your treatment. The number of treatments may also depend on how your cancer responds to the treatments.

Can I take a bath or shower while I am receiving my radiation treatments?

You can shower or take a bath, but you should be careful not to wash off the marks that the therapists have put on your skin. You should keep the marks on your skin as dry as possible. Don’t soak the area and don't let the area be in the direct stream of the shower. If you do get the marked area wet, just pat it dry with a towel, don’t rub it.

When can I expect to experience any side effects?

The kind of side effects you have will depend on the type of cancer you have, where your cancer is and how much radiation it takes to destroy the cancer. Your doctor will tell you what to expect from your specific treatment program. In some cases there may never be any noticeable side effects.

How do I know if the treatments are working? Do you do tests to monitor the progress?

In most cases you will not know how well the treatments are working until some time after your are finished with your treatments. Sometimes it is possible to see on an X-ray or a CAT scan if the tumor is shrinking. If you are having pain or other symptoms from your cancer, you may notice a decrease in pain or symptoms after you have received some treatments. Your doctor will tell you what to expect in your specific case.

Do the "port films" or "check films" show how my cancer is progressing?

It is usually not possible to see your cancer on the "port films" or "check films," but the films can show if there are changes needed in the treatment setup.

How much do the treatments cost?

The cost of your treatments depends on how simple or complex your treatment plan is and how many treatments you will have. We can arrange for you to talk to a financial counselor who will look at the doctor's treatment plan for you and go over the cost of your whole treatment plan.