Health Guide

Chemotherapy is usually given as several courses of treatment, each of which may last from a few hours to several days or longer, depending on the drugs given. The total number of courses you have will depend on how well your cancer is responding to the drugs. It may take several months to complete your treatment.

Your doctor will take several factors into consideration when planning your treatment. Most important are:

• the type of cancer you have;
• where it is situated in the body;
• how far it has spread, if at all;
• your age and general health.

The frequency of your treatments and the total length of time it takes will also depend on several factors including:

• the type of cancer you have;
• the drugs you have been prescribed;
• the response of the cancer cells to the drug(s) during treatment;
• any side effects the drugs may cause.

If you want to keep working during your treatment, you might like to ask your doctor if your treatment times can be fitted in with this. Treatment can also sometimes be delayed to fit in with special occasions you wish to attend or to allow you to go away on holiday. Your doctor will be happy to explain your own treatment plan to you. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.