Myths About Chemotherapy

Page last modified on: June 18, 2008
  1. The more chemotherapy you receive, the better you'll do.

    More is not necessarily better. When it comes to chemotherapy, it's the right combination of drugs that's most important, not going above and beyond the standard dosage. Getting at least the standard dosage is very important, but going above that offers no real advantage.
  2. If you don't get sick from chemotherapy, the treatment isn't working.

    No. The "no pain, no gain" rumors about chemotherapy are just that—rumors. There is no correlation between the amount that someone suffers from chemotherapy and the benefit it has against the cancer. Everyone responds differently. Some women have very few side effects; some have them daily.
  3. Younger women have greater nausea on chemotherapy.

    Yes. It's true. The younger you are, the more likely you are to be nauseated. Younger women have a larger nausea-trigger zone in the brain that decreases as you get old.
  4. You have to get really nauseated first, so the doctors will know how you respond to the chemotherapy.

    No. No one has to get sick. Your first dose of anti-nausea medication will be given along with your chemotherapy, and you'll have oral medication to take home with you to take for the first 48 hours.
  5. You will be sicker with each chemotherapy treatment. And you'll be more exhausted as time goes on.

    No, and Yes.Your doctor or nurse should be able to adjust your supportive medications to help alleviate your symptoms if you are feeling sick after chemotherapy. Being sick after your first round does not necessarily mean you will be sick or sicker the next time. Fatigue is cumulative, though. You won't start to feel completely energetic again until the entire course of treatment is over.
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