Chemotherapy

This is the most common concern among the public, but chemotherapy is not a "smart" treatment; it attacks wherever there is a rapidly multiplying cell in the body (like a cancer cell). Hair follicles are also very rapidly multiplying cells, which is why some drugs cause hair loss. However, not every protocol causes hair loss. And after your treatment is over, your hair often grows back much thicker than before and sometimes curly.

Those severe vomiting scenarios experienced in past years are largely history now. In modern medicine, the "new generation anti-emetic (anti-nausea)" drugs given via IV just before chemotherapy are so powerful that the vast majority of patients can get through the process without vomiting at all or with only very mild loss of appetite/fatigue.

Chemotherapy drugs can burn and irritate your arm veins (peripheral veins) over time, making it torturous to find a vein. To prevent this, a coin-sized "Port (reservoir)" is inserted under the skin of the chest or shoulder with a small operation. All blood drawing and chemotherapy administration procedures that will take months are easily and painlessly performed through this port.

Yes, the drugs also suppress the production of blood (and white blood cells) in the bone marrow. Approximately 7 to 14 days after taking the drug (nadir point), your leukocytes hit bottom, and you become very vulnerable to infection. During this process, it is vital to watch out for fever, stay away from crowds, and eat well; when blood values drop, your doctor will prescribe immunity injections.