Infusion therapy

When determining the proper course of IV infusion treatment, sometimes a more permanent type of catheter may be recommended to avoid repeated needle sticks into the vein. These permanent catheters are called central venous catheters or implanted ports. Central venous catheters are surgically inserted into one of the large, major veins in the chest and stay in place until the therapy is completed.

Chemotherapy, blood and IV fluids can be given through this catheter, and blood for lab tests can be drawn from this site. The tube will be capped and covered by a dressing, while your nurse will teach you how to care for the catheter to avoid infection.

Implanted ports

An implanted port is a type of central venous catheter that is surgically inserted into a vein under the skin surface on the chest wall between the neck and shoulder or in the lower arm. The nurse will insert a needle through the top skin surface to use the port to give chemotherapy, blood, IV fluids or draw blood. Home care is usually required only at initial insertion.

Like what is administered for laboring women, an epidural infusion targets medication to the center of your lower back, surrounding the nerves in the spine. To accomplish this, your doctor will make a small injection and insert a catheter tube into your back, somewhere between the bottom of the skull and the tip of the tailbone. This injection is then followed by pain medication through the tube.

Intramuscular infusions deliver medications directly into the muscles, allowing them to absorb more quickly in the bloodstream. Most commonly used for vaccines, intramuscular infusions are typically used when specific IV methods are irritating to the veins or when certain oral drugs risk being compromised by your digestive system.

Intramuscular infusions are absorbed faster than subcutaneous infusions, which can take up to 24 hours to fully absorb. Intramuscular infusions work more quickly because muscle tissue can hold a larger volume of medication and has a greater blood supply than the tissue just under the skin.

The most common type of infusion is IV infusion therapy, which means "into the vein." IV infusion therapy is used for a variety of treatments, including antibiotics, biologics, general pain management and heart pump medications. It is also the primary form of chemotherapy, where IV infusions target and destroy tumors and cancer cells.

IV infusion therapy is delivered via a traditional IV, the same kind of IV you have likely used if you have ever spent time in a hospital and received hydration or fast-acting medications.

Subcutaneous infusions use short needles to inject medications just under the skin, into the tissue layer between skin and muscle. Subcutaneous infusions become beneficial for small amounts of delicate drugs when IV infusion become cumbersome and costly. Common subcutaneous infusions include insulin (such as an EpiPen), hormones and morphine.

Chemotherapy is a powerful chemical drug treatment used to kill numerous types of cancer cells. Depending on your cancer diagnosis and its stage, the four main goals of chemotherapy are:

• Cure cancer
• Keep cancer from spreading
• Relieve cancer symptoms
• Slow the growth and multiplication of cancer cells

You may be treated in your doctor's office, in the hospital, receive pills to take on a specific schedule at home or receive drugs at home via an implanted pump. Your dosage schedule may last from a few weeks up to a year, with varying cycle frequency, such as once a week, once a month or other intervals. If you are going to be treated as a hospital inpatient, we have specialized facilities and nurses to take care of you.

Chemotherapy may be used in conjunction with radiation therapy, surgery or both, depending on the type and stage of your cancer. More than one chemotherapy drug may be given at a time to increase the chances of effectiveness.

Chemotherapy can also be delivered orally, intramuscularly and intrathecally (into the spinal fluid through a spinal tap).

IV chemotherapy

While sometimes chemotherapy can be administered through epidural or other infusions, typically, chemotherapy is administered through IV infusion therapy.

IV chemotherapy sends medicine directly into a vein via a small needle inserted into the lower arm. Sometimes, a syringe pushes the chemotherapy through the tubing, which is called an IV push. When you receive chemotherapy through an IV, it's important to tell your nurse right away if there is any redness, burning or discomfort in the IV area.

During and after chemotherapy

During chemotherapy treatments, you may experience some nausea. Some, but not all, chemotherapy drugs may cause nausea and vomiting if you do not take any preventive measures. Your healthcare team knows which medications are likely to cause these issues, and you may be prescribed additional antinausea medications to take before, during or after a chemotherapy treatment. We also give you "angel mints" that help calm nausea.

Additionally, some treatments may cause hair loss on your head and other parts of the body. Your doctor knows which treatments are likely to cause hair loss, and generally, your hair will grow back after treatment.

The main factor to consider is that chemotherapy is usually delivered systemically so that both your healthy and cancerous tissues are exposed to the drug. Chemotherapy is used this way because cancer cells are more vulnerable to treatment than healthy cells. However, your body's healthy tissues need time to recover their strength.

Typically, you will receive an initial course of treatment, which will let the doctor know if the drugs are effective against your cancer. Depending on your overall health afterward, you may receive additional courses necessary to destroy any remaining cancer cells in your body.

Your doctor may provide a list of instructions for care between chemotherapy cycles. Follow them carefully and stay focused on having a good outcome from treatment.