You can also say whether you want to be resuscitated with CPR or put on a ventilator if your heart stops beating. Many people have been in the same place as you are now. Find a support group in your area or go online to chat with others who are coping with stopping their chemotherapy and planning end-of-life care. Knowing when to stop chemotherapy can be just as difficult as going through treatment. Being comfortable with your decision is important for your well-.
Radiation and chemotherapy are treatments for cancer. Side effects include easy bruising, mouth lesions, and infections. If chemotherapeutic agents are part of your care plan, here's what to know about what might be involved. Read on to learn about the different classes of alkylating agents and drug types, as well as risks and efficacy rates to consider.
Hand-foot syndrome is a painful side effect you may have after chemotherapy treatment. Learn why it happens and what you can do to feel better. We look at the how, when, and why of chemotherapy, what to know about chemo drugs, and how to find treatment centers.
What cytotoxic agents are used in treating cancer? And which cancers are they effective against? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
Type 2 Diabetes. Share on Pinterest. Treatment plans. Ending treatment. Documenting your wishes. However, it is important to note that the intensity of the pain varies from person to person. Also, the risk of damage to organs depends on the location of the tumor.
Some types of cancer do not respond well to radiation or chemotherapy, so a person may need to try immunotherapy. Immunotherapies either stimulate the immune system in a general way or train it to attack cancer cells directly. Immunotherapy may work when other treatments do not, and it can have other advantages.
For example, it:. Also, after learning to target cancer cells, the immune system remembers this response if cancer reappears. Hormone therapy works by either stopping the body from producing hormones or interfering with how hormones affect the body. Hormone therapy to treat breast cancer, or antiestrogen therapy, focuses on lowering estrogen levels.
This may involve surgical procedures, such as the removal of the ovaries, or medications that interrupt signals from the pituitary gland, which stimulates estrogen production. Hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer, or androgen-suppression therapy, lowers testosterone and dihydrotestosterone DHT production. Treatments include surgical procedures to remove one or both testicles and medications that prevent the production of testosterone and DHT.
Hormone therapy can prevent the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. It can also help reduce the risk of cancer returning after surgery. This involves using medication that specifically targets cancer cells, destroying them from the inside.
Unlike chemotherapy, targeted therapy does not affect healthy cells. It targets cancer by identifying particular genetic abnormalities in cancer cells. Targeted therapy works best in combination with other treatments. There are many types of targeted therapy, and they employ different methods. These therapies may fight cancer by:. If tests suggest that chemotherapy does not work or has stopped working, the doctor may recommend other options.
Anyone with concerns that chemotherapy is not working should raise these with their cancer doctor, or oncologist. A person may wish to stop chemotherapy for a while or altogether. This may be because of adverse side effects, because the treatment seems to be ineffective, or for other reasons. Anyone who is considering stopping should speak with their doctor first.
They will describe the possible next steps and help the person make the right decision. Clinical trials also might offer chances to try newer treatments that could be helpful. Your doctor can help estimate how likely it is the cancer will respond to treatment you might be considering. For instance, the doctor might say that more treatment might have about a 1 in chance of working. The possible benefits, risks, side effects, costs, schedule of treatments and visits, and effect on quality of life should always be considered and discussed.
When a person has tried many different treatments and the cancer is still growing, even newer treatments might no longer be helpful. At some point you may need to consider that further treatment is not likely to improve your health or change your outcome or survival.
Treatment in this situation is sometimes referred to as futile care. Again, it's important to trust your cancer care team and discuss all options with your loved ones during this difficult time as you decide whether to continue treatment.
Whether or not you continue treatment, there are things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life. Be sure to ask about and get treatment for any symptoms you might have, such as nausea or pain. Palliative care can be used whether you are getting cancer treatment or not. And it can be used at any stage of your illness.
Palliative care is used to help ease symptoms and side effects. You can learn more in Palliative Care. If the decision to stop treatment is made, at some point, you might benefit from hospice care.
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