Chemotherapy and infusion for cancer patients

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are most commonly used for treating cancer. The goal of chemotherapy is to cure, control, or reduce cancerous symptoms. You probably have many questions if your cancer treatment plan includes chemotherapy infusion. Let us help answer them so you can feel comfortable during your visit to University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center for your therapy treatment.

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a powerful drug that targets and destroys cancer cells.

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells throughout the whole body. This makes it different from treatments like radiation or surgery.

How is chemo given?

Chemo can be administered as a pill, shot, or intravenously (through the veins).

What is infusion for cancer patients?

Many types of chemo are given as an infusion or injection. With chemo infusions, chemotherapy drugs are put into your body through a thin tube called a catheter placed in a vein, artery, fluid-filled space, or body part. In some cases, a chemo drug may be injected with a syringe.

Pumps are then used to control how fast and how much chemo is delivered into your body. They will infuse your therapy in the outpatient center or, for certain treatments, you will wear the pump at home for a few days.

How long do infusion treatments take?

The length of your chemotherapy will depend on your specific cancer treatment plan. Each treatment session may only last thirty minutes or less for some patients. For others, it may last hours. Your doctor will share how long you can expect to undergo each chemotherapy session.

How is immunotherapy used to treat cancer?

Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses a person's immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy can boost or change how the immune system works to find and attack cancer cells.

Is immunotherapy used for all cancers?

Immunotherapy works better for some types of cancer than for others. It’s used by itself for some of these cancers, but for others, it seems to work better when used with other types of treatment. Researchers have found ways to help the immune system recognize cancer cells and strengthen its response so that it will destroy them. In this way, your body gets rid of the cancer with scientific help.

What to expect during your visit

Each infusion station features comfortable patient chairs and an entertainment system. Private infusion areas are available to patients who prefer them. Patients coming in with a group of family members can use the family infusion room, which has ample space and amenities to give the feel of home during their therapy.

A specially trained staff of certified oncology nurses administers chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotics and other IV medications ordered by the oncology physicians.