Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy for breast cancer is usually a combination of drugs. The drugs may be given as a pill or by injection into a vein (IV). Either way, the drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body.
Most women with breast cancer have chemotherapy in an outpatient part of the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home. But some women may need to stay in the hospital during chemotherapy.
A woman may want to ask her doctor these questions before having systemic therapy (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or biological therapy):
- Why do I need this treatment?
- What drugs will I be taking? What will they do?
- If I need hormonal treatment, would surgery to remove the ovaries or drugs be better for me?
- When will treatment start? When will it end?
- What are the expected benefits of the treatment? How will we know the treatment is working?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment? What can I do about them? Which side effects should I tell you about? Will there be long-term side effects?
- Where will I go for treatment? Will I be able to drive home afterward? Will I need to stay in the hospital?
- How will treatment affect my normal activities?
- Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me?
- What kind of follow-up care will I need?
