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What to expect when having chemotherapy
This information will apply in most cases, but you may find that things are done slightly differently depending on how you have chemotherapy and where you have treatment.
Tests you may have |
Receiving the treatment |
To prepare for chemotherapy and between cycles, you will have a number of tests to help plan treatment:
For some chemotherapy drugs you may also have:
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While receiving chemotherapy you will usually be:
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Clinical A/Prof Rosemary Harrup, Director, Cancer and Blood Services, Royal Hobart Hospital, TAS; Katie Benton, Advanced Dietitian, Cancer Care, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Queensland Health, QLD; Gillian Blanchard, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Calvary Mater Newcastle, NSW; Stacey Burton, Consumer; Dr Fiona Day, Staff Specialist, Medical Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, and Conjoint Senior Lecturer, The University of Newcastle, NSW; Andrew Greig, Consumer; Steve Higgs, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; Prof Desmond Yip, Clinical Director, Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, ACT.
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Radiation therapy
Information about this common cancer treatment, which is sometimes used with chemotherapy or on its own
Making cancer treatment decisions
Decision-making steps, consent and second opinions