Cancer is an important health and life problem with an increasing frequency in the world and in Turkey. It ranks second among life-threatening diseases after cardiovascular diseases. The most common cancers in our country are women; breast, thyroid, intestine, uterus and lung; lung, prostate, bowel, bladder and stomach cancers in men. The diagnosis and treatment of cancer should be carried out in a multidisciplinary manner with the cooperation of many specialties. Medical Oncology, one of these specialties, deals with chemotherapy applications, which means the treatment of cancer with drugs. 

In the medical oncology departments of MediChiron Health Services Oncology centers; In cancer treatment, chemotherapies, targeted smart drugs and molecules, hormonal therapy and immunotherapies and biological treatments are carried out. Unlike conventional chemotherapies, smart drugs that aim to provide comfort today are applied individually.While chemotherapy is used to shrink the tumor before or after surgery, it can also be preferred before or after radiotherapy, which is one of the local treatment methods, or both. Chemotherapy is a specialty because it is performed with cytotoxic drugs. It is based on the principle that drug therapy, which will be administered in effective doses, is also applied by controlling the side effects that may occur in the patient. Treatment methods applied in the Medical Oncology department:

What is Chemotherapy?

 Chemotherapy means treating the tumor with medication. It is a very important part of tumor treatment along with surgery and radiation therapy. With chemotherapy, tumor cells are killed or the growth of the tumor is tried to be stopped. Sometimes a single, sometimes several drugs are administered by giving them in various ways. 

By Who Is Chemotherapy Applied?

 The branch of science dealing with chemotherapy is called “Medical Oncology” or “Medical Oncology”, and the doctor working in this field is called “Medical Oncologist (Medical Oncologist)”.Medical oncology is a separate specialty; A medical oncologist is an internal medicine specialist specializing in tumor treatment. Tumor treatment is a team effort and must be applied in centers where all members of this team are present. This team should include a surgeon specialized in tumor surgery, a radiation oncologist related to radiation therapy (radiotherapy), a medical oncologist related to chemotherapy and patient care (supportive treatment). 

What is the Purpose of Chemotherapy Application? 

Chemotherapy can be applied for different reasons such as the type of tumor and the characteristics of the patient. To completely destroy the tumor and cure the patient,To prevent the spread of the tumor,To stop or slow the growth of the tumor,Chemotherapy is applied to eliminate the symptoms caused by the tumor. Although it is an effective treatment method, in some cases, it can not completely destroy the tumor and only improve its symptoms and provide a comfortable life. 

Chemotherapy is the only treatment for some tumors.In others, chemotherapy is administered sequentially or simultaneously with other treatments (surgery and radiotherapy). For example; Chemotherapy can be used to shrink the tumor before surgery and to prevent it from spreading after surgery. The same applications can be made before and after radiotherapy, as well as chemotherapy with various methods at the same time as radiotherapy.

 What is the Frequency and Duration of Chemotherapy Application?

 The duration and frequency of treatment depends on the specific chemotherapy scheme chosen according to the disease and the patient’s condition. The duration and frequency can be changed by the doctor according to the response obtained with the treatment and the side effects. Generally, the most frequently used intervals are 3 or 4 weeks, but in addition to some treatment schemes, there are applications once a week or every two weeks. 

The most important, even vital, point regarding the timing of chemotherapy is that the treatment is done as regularly as possible and in a timely manner as the side effects allow.When the treatment intervals are prolonged unnecessarily, the risk of recovery of the tumor and getting stronger by gaining resistance to drugs is gained. In this way, the tumor continues to grow and spread, reducing the chance of treatment success. Patients should definitely not go beyond the recommendations of their doctor about chemotherapy appointments. 

Before stopping the treatment for any reason, you should talk to your doctor about your problems and ask for help. Be sure to comply with the treatment days. Never change your treatment day on your own initiative just because you are not feeling well. Be sure to take the medicines you have to use at home. Otherwise, it can be a word of mouth to face treatment failures due to incomplete treatment.

 Where is Chemotherapy Applied?

 Chemotherapy should be applied in centers where trained people work. It should not be administered by any healthcare professional who does not have chemotherapy experience, in any hospital or at home, without the knowledge and permission of the doctor.