Oral chemotherapy refers to the drugs administered orally as part of an extended or comprehensive drug treatment. There are multiple ways of applying the principles of chemotherapy for the treatment of various health conditions. Nowadays, due to progress in cancer treatments and research, patients benefit from many different types of chemotherapy that can be taken in as tablet, liquid or capsule. Thus any drug that can be taken by mouth to treat cancer belongs to oral chemotherapy. The health impact of pills remains identical to that of intravenous medication for instance, with the specification that the incidence of digestive adverse reactions will be a lot higher.
Some chemotherapy drugs can never be taken orally as they cannot be absorbed in the stomach or they can cause harm if swollen. So as to avoid side effects, many anti-cancer drugs are administered intravenously through a line. In the case of oral chemotherapy, the treatment is more facile as the patient can do it at home, without being forced to go to hospital every time it is applied.
A good way to organize oral chemotherapy is in cycles of administration. Thus, the possibility to damage healthy cells is reduced and drugs are allowed to destroy more cancerous cells. Obviously, it is for the doctor to establish the periodicity of the treatment whether daily, weekly or monthly. Anyway, the anti-cancer treatment scheme proposed by the specialist ought to be discussed with the patient so that she/he may know what lies ahead in terms of challenges, difficulties and success rate. Good information will stimulate the cancer sufferer to make a positive decision concerning the normal course of action.
Even if oral chemotherapy drugs are not as strong as the others and although they do not affect the patients’ stomach, there are side effects of the treatment here too. Tiredness for a few days after beginning the treatment, nausea and vomiting, possible change in the amount of blood cells – anemia, lower capability of the blood to clot, diarrhea or constipation, flu-like symptoms, hair loss, increased risk of infection, kidney or bladder problems, mouth, gum and throat sores, pains, and nerve and muscle problems, are some of the long list of side effects of oral chemotherapy, just the same as those of any other form of chemotherapy treatments. For any of these side effects it is advisable that patients address their doctors for advice and help.
