Oncology
Chemotherapy
Anti-cancer drugs given in cycles that travel through the bloodstream — used before surgery, after it, or as the main treatment in its own right.
Anti-cancer drugs given in cycles that travel through the bloodstream — used before surgery, after it, or as the main treatment in its own right.
At a glance
- In hospital
- 1 day
- Total stay
- 14 days
- Cost
- Quoted after clinical assessment
Chemotherapy uses drugs that destroy cancer cells or stop them dividing. Because the drugs circulate in the bloodstream they reach cancer that has spread beyond where it started, which is what distinguishes them from surgery and radiotherapy — both of which treat one place.
How it is given, and in what rhythm
Most chemotherapy is given as a drip into a vein; some is taken as tablets, and some is injected. It is given in cycles — treatment, then a gap for the body to recover — spread over weeks or months, and the number of cycles depends on the cancer, its stage and how it responds. A single session usually runs one to four hours. Where many cycles are planned, a port or line spares the veins and makes each visit easier; it is worth asking about early rather than after the veins have suffered.
Where it sits in the plan
Chemotherapy can be the main treatment, or given before surgery to shrink a tumour, or after it to clear cells that may have been left behind. It is also combined with radiotherapy or with targeted therapy in plans built for a specific cancer. Which of those applies to you is a decision made from the pathology report, not from the drug.
Side effects, and what is done about them
Tiredness, nausea, hair loss and a higher risk of infection are the common effects, and most are temporary and manageable. Anti-sickness drugs are given routinely rather than on request, and growth factors are used where blood counts fall. Blood tests before each cycle are what keep this safe: they check that your counts have recovered enough for the next dose. A fever during a low-count period is an emergency, not something to sleep on, and you will be told exactly whom to call.
What we arrange around it
Because chemotherapy runs over months, we plan the trip around the first cycles and the review that follows, and set out in writing what has to continue at home — including which blood tests, how often, and what results should trigger a call. If treatment is to be shared between here and your own country, that handover is arranged before you fly, not afterwards.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Whether a procedure is right for you is a decision for a qualified clinician who has seen your reports.