LIVING with Cancer
Treating the
Treatment
Chemotherapy symptoms can often be managed The idea of cheMoTheraPy is
Chemotherapy is a cancer treat-
a looming threat that often strikes
ment that uses drugs to help de-
fear in the hearts of cancer pa-
stroy cancer cells, stop cancer from
tients. And really, the thought of
spreading and slow its growth. In at-
months of hair loss, pain and nau-
tempting to destroy the cancer cells,
sea is enough to scare anybody.
it may also destroy normal cells,
But Silvana Bucur, M.D., a medi-
When patients are able to maintain their weight, they’re able to keep their strength, which helps them better deal with chemotherapy.
cal oncologist who practices at
It literally poisons the cells, and
University Hospital, said that de-
in doing so, poisons the body as
pending on the type of cancer and
well. In the past, the side effects of
therapy you have, your chemo side
these treatments have had the po-
effects might be less overwhelm-
tential to literally bring patients to
ing than you think.
their knees with weakness, fatigue,
-Silvana Bucur, M.D.
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which are innocent bystanders.
University Health Care System