Chemotherapy is a treatment that kills cancer cells. This can occur either by itself or with other treatments. All types of cancers are not candidates for chemotherapy. Your doctor may be able to suggest other treatments.
Chemotherapy is not without its risks. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, decreased appetite, and decrease in red blood cell counts. Some drugs can also negatively impact the immune response, making it less effective against infections. Antibiotics may be necessary to reduce your chances of getting infected during chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy usually takes place in cycles of several weeks to a few months. The drugs are administered by a device, which is placed in a vein under the arm or in the chest. The treatment takes approximately one hour. Your doctor can help you to manage side effects.
Your red blood cells and your white blood cells might decrease during chemotherapy. This can cause fatigue, weakness, breathing problems, and other symptoms such as breathing difficulties. If your blood counts drop too low, you might need a transfusion.
Some chemotherapy drugs can make food taste metallic. Other side effects include dry, itchy, painful, or inflamed mouth, as well as mouth ulcers, gum inflammation, dryness, and mouth odor. These side effects can easily be reduced by brushing your tooth gently. Avoid spicy and acidic foods.
The peripheral nerves can also be affected by chemotherapy. Some people experience tingling and numbness in the feet and hands. Treatment usually results in peripheral neuropathy improving. The condition could be a symptom or sign of another problem. Talk to your doctor about any tingling or numbness you are experiencing.
Your oncologist can monitor the long-term effects treatment. Regular blood tests might be necessary to check your PSA levels as well as kidney function. These tests can be used to help your doctor assess whether chemotherapy is effective. You may be able stop chemotherapy if you have severe side effects.
Side effects of chemotherapy are often difficult to treat. Follow your doctor's and nurses' instructions. Your loved ones, as well as the rest of your healthcare team, should be able to discuss your concerns. They can help you manage side effects and might suggest more effective treatments.
If side effects from chemotherapy are causing you difficulty, it is possible to arrange for help at your home or workplace. You might need to arrange for food and water. It is also a good idea to cover your head with a scarf. Talk to your oncologist about how you can continue to get regular check-ups.
You may also want to talk with your doctor about a possible bone marrow transplant. This treatment is commonly used to treat bone-marrow cancers. Although it is not a cure, it can be used to manage rheumatoid and lupus. It is safe for women who are pregnant.
FAQ
What is a health care system?
The health system encompasses all aspects of care from prevention to rehabilitation and everything between. It includes hospitals, pharmacies and community services.
Complex adaptive systems are the hallmark of health systems. They can have emergent qualities that cannot be predicted if you only look at individual components.
The complexity of health systems makes them difficult to understand and manage. Here creativity is key.
Creativity allows us to find solutions for problems we don’t know how. We use our imaginations to create new ideas and develop ways to improve things.
Health systems need people who think creatively because they're constantly evolving.
People who think creatively can help change the way health systems operate for the better.
What are you opinion on the most pressing issues in public health?
Many people are suffering from diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and heart disease. These conditions account for more deaths annually than AIDS and car crashes combined. A poor diet, lack exercise, and smoking can all lead to high blood pressure as well as stroke, asthma and other health problems.
What is the difference in the health system and the health care services?
Health systems are broader than just healthcare services. They encompass all aspects of the life context, including education, employment and social security.
Healthcare services on the other hand focus on medical treatment for specific conditions like diabetes, cancer, and mental illness.
They could also refer to generalist primary care services provided by community-based physicians working under the supervision of an NHS trust.
What are my options for immunizations in the United States?
Immunization is the process that stimulates the immune response to a vaccination. The body produces antibodies (immunoglobulins), to protect itself against infection after receiving the vaccine.
What are the three main goals of a healthcare system's healthcare system?
The three most important goals of a healthcare system should be to provide care for patients at an affordable cost, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs.
These goals have been incorporated into a framework known as Triple Aim. It is based upon research from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. IHI published the following in 2008.
The idea behind this framework is that if we focus on all three goals together, we can improve each goal without compromising any other goal.
Because they don't compete with one another, this is why. They support each others.
If people have more access to care, it means that fewer people will die because they cannot pay. That reduces the overall cost of care.
Also, improving the quality of care helps us reach our first goal - to provide affordable care for patients. It can also improve outcomes.
What are the health services?
Patients need to know that they are able to access quality healthcare at any hour. We are here to help, no matter if you need an emergency appointment or a routine visit.
We offer many types and types of appointments. We also provide home care visits for those who live far from our clinic. We can also arrange for home care visits if you do not feel at ease in our office.
Our team includes nurses, doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and other professionals dedicated to providing excellent patient service. Our goal is to make each visit as painless and convenient as possible.
What does the term "public" in public health mean?
Public Health is the protection and improvement of the health of the community. Public health is the prevention of disease, injury, disability, promotion of good health, adequate nutrition, and control over communicable and environmental hazards as well behavioral risks.
Statistics
- The health share of the Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to continue its upward trend, reaching 19.9 percent of GDP by 2025. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Over the first twenty-five years of this transformation, government contributions to healthcare expenditures have dropped from 36% to 15%, with the burden of managing this decrease falling largely on patients. (en.wikipedia.org)
- About 14 percent of Americans have chronic kidney disease. (rasmussen.edu)
- Price Increases, Aging Push Sector To 20 Percent Of Economy". (en.wikipedia.org)
- Foreign investment in hospitals—up to 70% ownership- has been encouraged as an incentive for privatization. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
How To
What is the Healthcare Industry Value Chain
The healthcare industry value chains include all the activities involved with providing healthcare services. This includes the business processes within hospitals and clinics and the supply chains that connect them to other providers such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, insurance companies, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors. The final result is a continuum in care that begins with diagnosis, and ends with discharge.
The value chain consists of four major components.
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Business processes - These are the tasks performed throughout the whole process of providing health care. For example, a doctor may perform an exam and then prescribe medication. Every step must be done efficiently and accurately.
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Supply Chains are all the organizations responsible for making sure the right supplies reach their intended recipients at the right time. One hospital may have many suppliers. This includes pharmacies and lab testing facilities as well as imaging centers and janitorial staff.
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Networked Organizations (NO) - In order to coordinate the various entities, communication must exist between all parts of the system. Hospitals often have several departments. Each one has its own phone number and office. To ensure that everyone is up to date, every department will have a central point from which employees can access updates.
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Information Technology Systems- IT is vital in ensuring smooth business processes. Without it, things would fall apart quickly. IT is also a platform that allows for the integration of new technologies into the system. A secure network connection can be used by doctors to connect electronic medical records to their workflow.