Lung cancer: chemotherapy
Understanding your treatment options for lung cancer
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where powerful medicines are used to kill cancer cells. There are many different types of chemotherapy medicine but they all work in a similar way. They stop cancer cells reproducing which in turn prevents them from growing and spreading in the body.
The most common way of giving this is through a vein into your body. It is known as intravenous, or IV chemotherapy. This is given in a hospital setting as a day case admission. Some chemotherapy can be taken in tablet form. This is called oral chemotherapy which can be taken at home. You may be treated with a combination of both IV and oral chemotherapy medicines.
Your respiratory team will have directly referred you to the doctors that offer chemotherapy; if this is the treatment you have been offered. They are called Medical Oncologists.
You will receive your treatment at The Meadows Unit at Eccleshill Community Hospital in Bradford. All appointments you have with your Oncologist and any treatment received will be administered at this unit.
You will be given contact numbers for the department. There is no charge to park at Eccleshill Community Hospital.
Chemotherapy can be given with several aims:
- We give it to control your lung cancer, slow the spread and help relieve symptoms when the cancer cannot be cured. This is called palliative chemotherapy
- It can be given before surgery is planned to shrink the cancer and make surgery easier. This is called neo adjuvant chemotherapy
- It can be given after surgery to prevent cancer returning. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy
- It can also be used in combination with radiotherapy or immunotherapy
For more information on different types of chemotherapy, visit the Macmillan Charity website.
We have created this video guide below to help you better understand the treatment process:
Risks to be aware of
You will also be given the number for the Acute Oncology Helpline. This is a telephone that is manned 24 hours a day, every day of the year where you should ring if you have any problems with side effects from treatment.
Some of those side effects from treatment are:
- feeling tired a lot of the time
- feeling sick or being sick
- a sore mouth and mouth ulcers
- diarrhoea or constipation
- some hair loss
More serious side effects that you should report immediately are:
- Increased risk of infection. You may have a temperature or feel shivery and shaky
- Bleeding. Your cells that clot your blood may be affected
Contact and directions
Your lung cancer nurse specialist team can answer any questions or concerns you have and help you to make any decisions you’re unsure about. Please don’t hesitate to contact them. These are the contact details you need:
- Email:
- Phone:
People with hearing and speech difficulties
You can contact us using the Relay UK app. Textphone users will need to dial 18001 before the number to be contacted.
Accessible Information
If you need this information in another format or language, please ask a member of staff.
Smoking
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a smoke-free organisation. You are not permitted to smoke or use e-cigarettes in any of the hospital buildings or grounds.
Wristbands
When you are in hospital it is essential to wear a wristband at all times to make sure you are safe during your stay. The wristband will show accurate details about you on it including all the information that staff need to identify you correctly and give you the right care.
If you do not have a wristband whilst in hospital, then please ask a member of staff for one. If it comes off or is uncomfortable, ask a member of staff to replace it.