Chemotherapy or ‘chemo’ involves you taking strong drugs to kill the cancer cells.
Many people have chemo in cycles – such as every day for two weeks, then a week off. You may also need to have chemo at the same time as the radiotherapy. Or two days every two weeks, or one day every three weeks. Some people have chemotherapy tablets at home, but most need to go to a hospital or clinic to get the drip. But you usually don’t need to stay in hospital for chemo.
Most chemo comes as injections into your arm or hand that drip in over a few hours and some need you to take home a small bottle home for two days then come back to take it off again. If you’re having chemo, your doctor will tell you exactly how it will work for you.
Chemo can make some people feel sick for a while, but there are things they can do to help. Yarn with your doctor, nurse or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker. And read more about chemotherapy and side effects.