Chemotherapy

Glossary

Chemotherapy (sometimes just called ‘chemo’) is the use of drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. The drugs are called cytotoxics, which means toxic to cells (cyto). Some of these drugs are obtained from natural sources such as plants, while others are completely created in a laboratory. Watch video on chemotherapy now.

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Questions for your doctor

You may find this checklist helpful when thinking about the questions you want to ask your doctor about having chemotherapy. If your doctor gives you answers that you don’t understand, ask for clarification.

Why do I need chemotherapy?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemotherapy for me?
How successful is chemotherapy for the type of cancer I have?
What is the goal of this chemotherapy?
Are there any other treatments I can have instead?
Is there any targeted therapy for the type of cancer I have?
How much does treatment cost?
What drugs will I be receiving? How will they be given?
How often will I receive chemotherapy? How long will I have treatment? How will you decide the dosage?
Which clinical guidelines are you following?
Where will I have chemotherapy? Can I have it close to where I live?
What are the possible side effects of this treatment and what can I do to control them?
Are there any complementary therapies that may help?
How will I know if the treatment is working?
Will chemotherapy affect my sex life and fertility?
After treatment has finished, will I need check-ups?
Who should I contact for information or if I have a problem during treatment? Who is my after-hours contact?

Chemotherapy for children

This information has been written primarily for adults having chemotherapy, although some of the information will also be relevant for children. Talk to your treatment team for specific information about chemotherapy for children. You might also want to get in touch with Camp Quality or CanTeen for age-appropriate resources and support:

Camp Quality – for children aged 0–13 who are living with cancer and their families. Call 1300 662 267 or visit campquality.org.au.
CanTeen – for young people aged 12–24 who have been affected by cancer. Call 1800 226 833 or visit canteen.org.au.

Video: What is chemotherapy?

If you have cancer, chemotherapy may play a big role in your treatment plan. Watch this short video to learn more about chemotherapy, its role, how you get it, and possible side effects.

This information was last reviewed in August 2016

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Publications

The information on this website is also available in the following publications:

Understanding Chemotherapy

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Instructions for downloading and reading EPUB files

Apple devices

The iBooks application must be installed on your Apple device before you can read the EPUB.
Different ways to download an EPUB file to your Apple device:

email EPUB files to yourself and transfer the attachment to iBooks.
copy EPUB files into DropBox (or a similar service) and use the DropBox app to send them to iBooks.
open EPUB files directly from Mobile Safari and open them in iBooks, where they are saved automatically by downloading the EPUB from the website.

Need more help? Visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4059

Kobo

To download an EPUB file to your Kobo from a Windows computer:

download and save the EPUB directly onto your desktop.
connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable and tap “Connect” on your eReader.
select “Open folder to view files” to view the contents of your Kobo.
navigate to where you have stored your EPUB file in “Finder”, in documents or downloads, and drag and drop it into the Kobo window. You can now disconnect your Kobo to read the eBook.

To download an EPUB to your Kobo from a Mac:

download and save the EPUB directly onto your desktop.
connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable and tap “Connect” on your eReader.
open your “Finder” application.
select “Kobo eReader” from the listed devices to view the contents of your Kobo.
navigate to where you have stored your EPUB file in “Finder”, probably in documents or downloads, and drag and drop it into the Kobo window. You can now disconnect your Kobo to read the eBook.

Turn on your Kobo and your EPUB will be located in “eBooks”, while a PDF will be located in “Documents”.
Need more information? Visit: http://www.kobo.com/help/koboaura/response/?id=3784&type=3

Sony Reader

To download an EPUB file on your Sony Reader™:

ensure you have already installed the Reader™ Library for PC/Mac software
select the eBook you want from our website and click the link to download it.
connect the Reader™ to your computer.
open the Reader™ Library software and click “Library” in the left-hand pane and select the eBook to view it.

Need more help? Visit: https://au.readerstore.sony.com/apps_and_devices/

Amazon Kindle 2nd Generation devices

EPUB files can’t be read on the Amazon Kindle™. However, like most eReaders, Kindle™ 2nd Generation devices are able to display PDFs. We recommend that you download the PDF version of this booklet if you would like to read it on a Kindle™.
To transfer a PDF to your Kindle™ via USB cable from your computer or Mac:

download the PDF directly onto your computer.
connect the USB cable to your computer’s USB port, and the micro USB end of the cable to your Kindle™. Note: the Kindle™ won’t be available as a reading device while it is connected to your computer until it has been disconnected.
open the Kindle™ drive and several folders will appear inside. The “Documents” folder is where you will need to copy or drag the PDF to.
safely eject your Kindle™ from your computer and unplug the USB cable. Your content will appear on the Home Screen.

Kindle also provides a Kindle Personal Documents Service that allows users to send documents as an attachment directly to your eReader. For more information on this service, visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_1-1?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200767340&qid=1395967989&sr=1-1
For more information on accessing a PDF on your Kindle™, visit www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle, log in to your account and click on Personal Document Settings.
Need more help? Visit https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200375630

Android and PC

You can also download and open eBooks on Android devices and PCs with appropriate apps or software installed. Suitable eReader apps for Android include Google Play Books, FBReader and Moon+ Reader. Suitable software for PCs include Calibre and Adobe Digital Editions.

Questions for your doctor

Chemotherapy for children

Video: What is chemotherapy?

This information was last reviewed in August 2016

Support services

Cancer information

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