Chemotherapy
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer you may be prescribed Chemotherapy by your Consultant Oncologist, Dr Penny Kechagioglou.
Chemotherapy can be given prior to surgery, as adjuvant treatment which is supplement to surgery, or in a palliative setting to control symptoms and prevent cancer from growing.
Not all patients require chemotherapy after surgery and you may be eligible for a genomic test to determine whether chemotherapy is the right treatment for you.
Chemotherapy can be given to a patient by:
- Mouth – a few drugs are given as tablets or capsules
- Intramuscularly – a few drugs are given by injection into a muscle or under the skin
- Intravenously – most of the drugs are given by an injection into the forearm or the back of the hand. A small needle is put through the skin into a vein and a drug solution injected slowly. The drug is distributed throughout the body via the blood stream.
When you have chemotherapy at Nuffield Warwick, you will have the option to receive your medication in your own private room, complete with en-suite facilities and satellite TV.
Chemotherapy treatment is tailored to meet your individual needs. The nurses involved in your care have many years of experience in treatment of cancer (oncology) and a pharmacist is also available to answer any questions that you may have regarding your medication. If you are currently taking any medication, you should bring this to the hospital with you.
Before Cancer Treatment
Before you start your treatment your Dr Penny Kechagioglou will explain the benefits and limitations of chemotherapy. She will also discuss with you, what, if any, side effects you may experience.
Prior to receiving chemotherapy, you will need to have a blood test.
You may need other tests prior to starting your treatment, such as heart scan, and potential insertion of a PORT which is the route to deliver chemotherapy safely into your veins.
Book your appointment
Get in touch and book your appointment with Penny today.