Intravenous means delivered by inserting a needle in a vein, orally is by mouth, and via catheter or port is by a tube inserted into the chest via a surgical procedure. Combination Chemotherapy is the use of a number of drugs together to combat the cancer. They often have acronyms for names like CHOP and ABVD . More on the Transplantation Information Page . Clinical trials are new treatments often used for people who are not responsive to conventional treatment or who wish to help researchers test new therapies.
Chemotherapy can be very tough on both body and spirit.
Side effects are common - some drugs cause hair loss, nausea, and low blood cell counts. The side effects vary by drug and combination of drugs. You can read more about these effects when researching individual drugs and drug combinations. Chemotherapy is the culmination of years of research and clinical trials - many of the mainstream combinations are very effective treatments. New drugs are in development by many pharmaceutical companies, promising new, effective treatments.