Chemotherapy uses medication to target cancer cells and kill them. Chemotherapy specifically targets cells which quickly divide, so unfortunately it also causes side effects for other quickly dividing healthy cells within the body, such as the hair, mouth lining and bowel lining. These healthy cells, however, will usually repair themselves, whereas the cancer cells will not.
Typically, patients receive their chemotherapy on the Pembroke Suite at Salisbury District Hospital. This can be found just inside the Main Entrance on Level 3 on the left, just past the enquiries window.
Depending on the home address, some patients may also be eligible to receive their chemotherapy closer to home on the Mobile Chemotherapy Unit (MCU). The team can discuss with you if appropriate.
Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer
Different types of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat lung cancer and can be administered in different ways and at different points in your treatment pathway.
How chemotherapy works?
Cancer cells divide and grow in a different and uncontrolled ways. Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells by interfering with their ability to divide and multiply.
Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment; meaning it is carried in the bloodstream and travels around the body.
Chemotherapy aims to target the cancer cells, but it can also damage healthy cells. The healthy cells usually recover from the damage caused by the chemotherapy, whereas the cancer cells cannot recover and eventually die. Because the chemotherapy can affect the healthy cells, this can cause side effects. Most side effects resolve once the chemotherapy is finished.
Chemotherapy prior to surgery is known as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy after surgery is known as adjuvant chemotherapy.
For information on the different medications used to treat different cancers, visit Macmillan Cancer Support’s website where you will be able to find information on the medication you have been prescribed via their ‘A to Z list of cancer drugs’, which is available here.
Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: Cancer drugs A to Z list | Treatment for cancer | Cancer Research UK
For more information on chemotherapy to treat lung cancer, Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation have put together this information booklet.
For full information on the Oncology Department, please click here.
If you are an existing patient receiving chemotherapy treatment and you have a temperature, feel unwell, or need advice on chemotherapy side effects or complications, please contact the 24-hour hotline on 01722 341930.
