Being diagnosed with cancer can be a very stressful and scary experience. You are feeling many emotions, but you often have to move fast when it comes to treatment. No matter what type of cancer you are diagnosed with and what stage it may be in, one of the most common and effective forms of treatment is chemotherapy. This means that it is important for you to understand what chemotherapy really is and what the pros and cons are. This will enable you to make the most informed decision when it comes to your health.
What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy might seem complex and impossible to understand, but it is essentially a type of cancer treatment that involves the use of chemicals that are given intravenously through the vain.
List of Pros of Chemotherapy
Now that you understand what chemotherapy is exactly, it is important for you to take a closer look at what the pros of this cancer treatment option really are.
Success Rate
One of the biggest benefits of chemotherapy that you need to be aware of is the success rate of this treatment option. It is important for you to be aware and realize that the success rate of chemotherapy has risen over the last 10 years. This means that every year the effectiveness of this treatment option has increased in prolonging the lives of those with cancer and curing many forms of cancer in patients. The success rate of any treatment is key, and chemotherapy is effective.
Extends Life
Sometimes the cancer that a patient is diagnosed with is incurable. This means that the only real option available is to extend life. The other big pro that is connected to chemotherapy is the ability to extend life in terminal cancer patients. This means that even though it will not cure the disease, it will prolong life and give patients more time with their loved one. It is an option that is available when extending life in any way is the real goal in a cancer patient.
List of Cons of Chemotherapy
Even though there are some pros of chemotherapy, there are also cons that you need to be made aware of.
Hair Loss
The one thing that is unavoidable when you begin chemotherapy is the loss of hair. This means that you will begin to lose your hair after just a few treatments. You will also begin to lose your appetite and feel overall much weaker as a result.
