Best Chemotherapy Doctor In Mumbai
Chemotherapy is a powerful form of medication therapy that helps in the destruction of rapidly growing cancerous cells. This treatment is often used in combination with other therapies including surgery, radiation, or hormonal therapy. The prime objectives of chemotherapy are to:
- Prevent further cell division
- Target the energy source of cancerous cells
- Stimulate the apoptosis of cancerous cells
Dr. Suresh Advani also offers rehabilitation services including speech rehabilitation, stoma rehabilitation, and occupational therapy. Along with providing the best chemotherapy treatment, Dr. Advani realised the importance of psychosocial support to cancer patients. Therefore, the oncology division at Sushrut Hospital & Research Centre has a dedicated oncology daycare center and a dedicated in-patient section with trained oncology nursing staff. There are counselors and volunteers to help patients throughout their treatment.
One can easily get Dr. Suresh Advani’s appointment during working hours and meet them in person to discuss their condition and seek information about chemotherapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is chemotherapy a safe process?
Yes. Chemotherapy is a very safe form of treatment. Generally, chemotherapy is a strong medication used to treat cancer. While undergoing chemotherapy, it is safe to touch other people (including kissing or hugging). However, proper care is required so that others don’t come in contact with the medication. It has some known side effects that can be treated or prevented effectively.
2. What are the different types of chemotherapy?
There are five primary types of chemotherapy medications:
- Alkylating agents: They are most effective when a cancer cell is in its resting phase and not actively dividing.
- Plant alkaloids: This medication is used when cancer cells start to divide. As the name implies, this class of chemotherapy drugs is derived from plants.
- Antitumor antibiotics: They are derived from fungi and work at many different phases of a cancer cell’s life cycle.
- Antimetabolites: These mimic the components of cancer cells and work at specific phases of a cancer cell’s life cycle to disrupt its ability to divide.
- Topoisomerase inhibitors: They act by weakening the structure of a cancer cell that is necessary for it to divide.
There are other additional chemotherapy types that are unique in their ability to attack cancer cells, and therefore, are used in different forms of cancer treatments.
3. Will I experience hair fall during chemotherapy?
Mostly yes. You may experience hair loss not just in your scalp but also on other parts of the body, such as the armpit, eyebrow, eyelashes, and other body hair. However, some new chemotherapy treatments cause only the thinning of hair and not a complete hair fall.
Nevertheless, this hair loss is temporary — your hair will grow back to full glory after the completion of the chemotherapy treatment.
4. Can I take chemotherapy at home?
You can take chemotherapy tablets or capsules at home. One can definitely organise chemotherapy at home provided you have a team of oncologists administering the same. You would still need to visit the hospital regularly for blood tests and check-ups. You can get your blood tests done with your general practitioner as well to save time going to the hospital. But, in an emergency, if you require medical help, then staying away from the hospital may put you in trouble.
5. Can I undergo chemotherapy during pregnancy?
Chemotherapy is seemingly safe for the baby if administered during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. But it is not safe for the baby during the first trimester. Other treatments for breast cancer, such as radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy, are more likely to cause harm to the baby, and therefore, are not generally given to patients during pregnancy.