Optum Perks: Going Through Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy and radiation are tough but often necessary parts of fighting cancer. Here’s what to expect.
Published October 24, 2022
When you get a cancer diagnosis, the surgery can feel like the hardest part. But that’s the “sprint” part of dealing with the illness. Often it’s the follow-up treatments that are the “marathon.”
“It’s incredibly challenging, both from a physical and mental perspective,” says Bill C. Potts. He’s a 5-time cancer survivor and Ironman Triathlon athlete. He’s also the author of Up for the Fight: How to Advocate for Yourself as You Battle Cancer — from a Five-Time Survivor.
Two of the most common cancer treatments are chemotherapy and radiation therapy. And, yes, they can be grueling. But there is some good news.
“I watched my father undergo chemotherapy for cancer in the late 1980s and 1990s. And the side effects were terrible,” says Mark Lewis, MD. He’s director of gastrointestinal oncology at Intermountain Healthcare in Murray, Utah. He’s also a cancer survivor.
“We still use the same treatments today, but we have been able to tweak them. So people can tolerate them much better,” he says. “Now it’s the exception, not the rule, that one of my patients will get very sick from chemo or radiation.”
Here’s a look at what to expect — and some answers to your most common questions.
No matter how you manage your cancer treatment, Optum Perks wants to help you save at the pharmacy. Here’s how it works.
How does chemotherapy for cancer treatment work?
Cancer cells typically grow and divide faster than normal ones. Chemotherapy targets cells that are changing rapidly. It works by damaging genes inside the nuclei of cancer cells. Because the chemo medication travels throughout the body, it can kill cancer cells that have spread far away from the original tumor. But healthy cells can be harmed, too — especially those in your blood, mouth, digestive system and hair follicles.
The most common way to get chemo is through a needle inserted into a vein at a treatment center. But it can also be taken as a pill or capsule, or as an injection.
Most chemotherapy treatments are given in repeating cycles. The length of a cycle depends on the type of chemo you receive. Most range from 2 to 6 weeks. The number of treatment doses scheduled within each cycle can also vary.
The length of a chemo session is different for each person. Sometimes it takes minutes, other times hours. Or it could be given over the course of several days or weeks. That is called continuous infusion chemotherapy. The medication is delivered through a small pump you wear or carry.
How does radiation for cancer treatment work?
Radiation therapy is focused on one area of your body. It uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells — or to at least slow their growth. The radiation alters the cells’ DNA so that they stop growing or are destroyed.
External-beam radiation therapy is the most common type of radiation for cancer. It delivers radiation from a machine that looks similar to an x-ray machine. The sessions last about 15 minutes. And they happen about 5 times a week. People typically receive radiation treatment for a 3- to 9-week period.
Recommended reading: Why late-stage prostate cancer is on the rise.
Does chemo or radiation hurt?
The treatments themselves don’t hurt. But the side effects can cause pain and discomfort.
What are some of the side effects of chemotherapy?
The side effects depend on what medication you are being given, says Dr. Lewis. And everyone’s experience is different. But common ones include:
Fatigue. You may feel tired even when you get enough rest. “As a former Ironman triathlete, I was surprised at the extent of the fatigue,” says Potts. “My body just couldn’t take it.”
Hair loss. This usually starts after several weeks and increases 1 or 2 months into chemotherapy.
Pain. This can include headaches, muscle pain, stomach pain or pain related to nerve damage. That usually causes burning, numbness and shooting pains in your fingers and toes. (For more info, check out: Your questions about cancer-related pain, answered.)
Throat and mouth sores
Constipation or diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Trouble with thinking and memory
Radiation therapy tends to have many similar side effects.
What can I do to feel better during treatment?
Listen to your body
“I struggled with this initially, but I finally learned to rest when my body told me to rest,” says Potts.
Talk to your doctor about medications that can help with side effects
There are many anti-nausea medications that can help, such as:
Ondansetron or palonosetron. These both block the effects of serotonin, a brain chemical that in high amounts can trigger nausea and vomiting.
Aprepitant. This medication helps block the vomiting reflex.
Metoclopramide. This one targets the brain chemical dopamine. It prevents dopamine from binding to areas of the brain that trigger nausea and vomiting.
Play mind games
The biggest challenge for Potts was the emotional aspect of treatment. “It became real when I laid down in the infusion center for my first treatment and had an infusion reaction,” he recalls.
And the emotional struggle worsened as the physical toll increased. “What really helped is that I would count up to the halfway point during chemotherapy treatments. Then I would count down,” says Potts. “It set goalposts and psychologically made things easier.”
Eat right
It can be a challenge to eat during cancer treatment due to nausea, lack of appetite and the presence of mouth or throat sores.
Try eating several small meals instead. Or use a blender or food processor to make veggies and meats easier to chew and swallow. Juices and smoothies are another good way to get needed calories and nutrients.
But talk to your doctor before taking any dietary supplements, because they can affect treatment.
Stay active
Remaining active can make it easier to tolerate the treatment. Exercise can reduce treatment-related tiredness and stress. And it helps maintain muscle strength. Plus, exercise has even been associated with better survival rates for certain cancers, such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
It can be hard to exercise when you feel lousy, but even a short 15-minute walk can help. You can also talk to your doctor about doing physical therapy as part of an overall cancer recovery program.
The bottom line: Your cancer treatment will be challenging. But you can work with your doctor to find medications that will reduce the side effects. And taking care of yourself will help make the journey a little easier, too. It’s all part of the effort to get better so you can live your best life.
Additional sources:
Chemotherapy overview: American Society of Clinical Oncology
Anti-nausea medications: American Cancer Society
Exercise and cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology
Links available to U.S.A only