Center for Minimally Invasive Esophageal Therapies

Treatments

Chemotherapy

The Center for Minimally Invasive Esophageal Therapies at Boston Medical Center is here to serve you and your family by providing you with the most advanced and effective medical treatment for your cancer, as well as unmatched patient care. Our team of highly trained, compassionate diagnosticians, surgeons, physician assistant, nurse practitioners, and surgical nurses work collaboratively to lead you on the path to recovery in the most comfortable way possible.

Overview

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment for cancer. It is systemic, meaning it circulates through and affects your entire body. The drugs work by entering the bloodstream and killing abnormal cells or stopping them from dividing. They are most often given by:

• Intravenous (IV) infusion, into a vein through a tiny plastic tube called a catheter
• Other methods of administration include pills

Your cancer's type, stage and location will determine the specific medicine(s), strength and frequency of your chemotherapy. You may have chemotherapy alone or with surgery or radiation. We will work with you to create the best treatment plan for your unique situation. 

Chemotherapy drugs are very strong, which is how they can cure, control or relieve symptoms of cancer, and they work best on cells that are quickly dividing. Some quickly dividing cells in the body are not cancerous, however, and they can be damaged, resulting in side effects. Healthy cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy is over. Fast-dividing cells include:  

• Cells that grow hair, resulting in hair loss on your head and body
• Cells in your bone marrow, which can cause fatigue and a higher risk of bleeding, bruising, low blood count and infection
• Cells of the skin and mouth, which can cause sores and dryness
• Cells in your stomach and intestines, causing nausea, diarrhea or vomiting

Medications can curb these side effects much more effectively than in the past. After a session of chemotherapy—which may occur as frequently as daily to once a month—you may feel tired, and you may not feel like eating. Talk to your physician about ways to cope with these life changes.   

How to Prepare

We suggest bringing a list of questions with you when you visit us, as we know chemotherapy can seem overwhelming at first; we welcome questions and will do our best to fully address your concerns. You may wish to ask a friend or family member to accompany you for the first few sessions, for support.  

What to Expect

The frequency and length of each chemotherapy visit will depend on the type, stage and location of your cancer, as well as where in the treatment process you are. A typical session involves arriving to your assigned area, discussing issues with a nurse, sitting in a chair or lying down on a bed and having your IV line started. You may read, watch television, talk with visitors or other patients, sleep or engage in other low-key activities during infusion.  
   
During and after the treatment, you will have frequent physical exams, tests and imaging to track your progress and the effects of the chemotherapy. We will share this information with you and your family and make recommendations as we go. If at any point during the process you have questions or concerns about treatment, side effects, emotional considerations or anything at all, please do not hesitate to call on us.  

Recovery

The recovery process varies greatly, depending on the individual case. It may take hours, days or weeks until you have all of your strength back. In the meantime, get plenty of rest, do some low impact exercise if you feel up to it, and eat a balanced diet full of easy-to-digest foods like yogurt, shakes and fruit. Meditation, yoga and other alternative therapies can be helpful as well.  

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