Chemotherapy (cancer treatment)

The cost of treatment for chemotherapy depends on your individual circumstances. At the time of your appointment your consultant will discuss all options with you and ensure all your questions are answered.

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.

Chemotherapy is primarily used to treat cancer, but can also be used to treat other diseases, such as immune system disorders and bone marrow diseases.

If you have cancer, chemotherapy might be used to:

• Cure your cancer
• Make other treatments more effective
• Prevent your cancer from returning
• Improve symptoms and quality of life

At your first consultation you'll be seen by a consultant oncologist, a doctor specialising in chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

Your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, general health and medical history, and may perform a physical examination. Depending on the cancer you have and the stage you’re at, they might ask to see results of, or arrange for you to have, the following tests:

• Blood and urine tests for insights into your general health, or to diagnose certain cancers and infections
• Imaging scans, such as X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT, PET, mammogram or bone scan, to provide detailed images of the inside of your body
• An endoscopy, where a flexible tube with a camera attached is used to examine the inside of your body
• A biopsy, taking a small sample of tissue to send to the laboratory to check for cancer cells

As well as learning about your medical history, your consultant will get to know you personally and learn how your cancer diagnosis has impacted your life. Your first appointment is also a chance for you to raise concerns and ask any questions you may have about your treatment.

At Circle Health Group, we want you to be as well-informed and comfortable as possible while undergoing chemotherapy, so please discuss anything on your mind with your consultant during your appointment.

At the end of your appointment, your consultant will decide if chemotherapy is a suitable treatment for you based on your age, diagnosis and general health. They will create an individualised treatment plan tailored to your specific needs, and explain what will happen during your treatment, any potential side effects and how effective your treatment is likely to be.

Deciding whether to have chemotherapy is a big decision only you can make. It’s important to take your time, talk to loved ones and be fully informed on what your treatment entails before making a decision. Our team of dedicated specialists are on hand to support you at every stage of the decision-making process and answer any questions you may have about your chemotherapy treatment.

Before starting chemotherapy, your consultant will tell you everything you need to do to prepare for treatment, and instructions on how to prepare will be in your appointment letter. If there’s anything you’re not sure about, or if you have any questions about your treatment, please contact the hospital for advice.

Your consultant may run some tests to check your general health and make sure you are well enough to start treatment. These may include blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and an X-ray.

To prepare for chemotherapy, you can aim to:

Be well informed: knowing what to expect from chemotherapy can put your mind at rest and help you feel more prepared for treatment. Ask your consultant about the chemotherapy drugs that will be used during your treatment, how they work, and their specific side effects.

• Build a support network: family, friends, health professionals and support groups can help boost morale as you undergo treatment.
• Have a dental check-up: dental issues, such as mouth ulcers and changes in your sense of taste, are common side effects of chemotherapy, so it’s important to make sure your gums and teeth are healthy before starting treatment.
• Make practical adjustments: you may need to alter your work schedule, arrange child or pet care and put a financial plan in place while having chemotherapy.
  Prepare for side effects: being aware of what side effects may occur and being prepared for them can help you adjust to any changes during chemotherapy. For example, you might want to buy a wig or scarf to deal with potential hair loss, use lip balm to help with dry lips or eat a light snack before your treatment session to help prevent nausea.
• Arrange entertainment for sessions: consider bringing a book, knitting or music to pass the time during treatment.
• Optimise your general health: stay as healthy as possible during treatment by eating a healthy, nutritious diet, staying hydrated and getting plenty of sleep.

Precautions

You may need to take some precautions to avoid complications during your chemotherapy treatment.

Other medications

Some medicines can interact with chemotherapy drugs, meaning they may change the way they work or cause harmful side effects. Tell your consultant about any other medications, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements you are taking before starting chemotherapy.

Preventing pregnancy

Some chemotherapy drugs can cause birth defects, making it important to avoid pregnancy while undergoing treatment. Since it’s unknown whether chemotherapy drugs can be passed on through semen or vaginal fluids, it’s recommended to use a barrier method of contraception, such as condoms, femidoms and dental dams, during chemotherapy.

Your consultant will advise you when you can safely get pregnant after your treatment. If you think you may be pregnant while having chemotherapy, contact your healthcare team immediately.

Before starting treatment, you’ll need to sign a consent form to say that you agree to have chemotherapy and are aware of what it entails and the potential side effects. You may be given one type of chemotherapy medication or a combination of drugs during your treatment. Chemotherapy usually consists of several treatment sessions spread over three to six months.

Types of chemotherapy

There are several different types of chemotherapy. Your consultant will decide on the most suitable type for you depending on:

• The type of cancer you have
• Where the cancer started in your body
• The stage of the cancer (how advanced it is)
• Whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body
• Your overall health

Types of chemotherapy include curative chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, and palliative chemotherapy.

Curative chemotherapy

This type of chemotherapy aims to eradicate your cancer completely and stop it from returning. It may be used when your cancer has spread, or there’s a high risk of it spreading. This type of chemotherapy is usually given intravenously (into a vein).

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy involves giving chemotherapy drugs before another treatment, such as surgery or radiation therapy. It aims to shrink your tumour and make other treatments more effective.

Adjuvant chemotherapy

This type of chemotherapy is given to people with cancer after surgery or radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

Palliative chemotherapy

Palliative chemotherapy doesn’t cure cancer, but aims to shrink the tumour which can reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

How is chemotherapy administered?

Chemotherapy can be administered in several ways:

• Intravenously: this is usually done in hospital and involves chemotherapy drugs being administered into a vein through a thin plastic tube in your hand, arm or chest, or via a port implanted under your skin. You can usually go home once your treatment session is finished.
• Oral chemotherapy: this involves taking chemotherapy tablets at home and having regular checkups in hospital.
• Less often, you may receive chemotherapy as injections under the skin (subcutaneous chemotherapy), into a muscle (intramuscular chemotherapy), into your spine (intrathecal chemotherapy), or as a topical treatment (skin cream).

Although it is an effective cancer treatment, chemotherapy takes a toll on your body, and after treatment you’ll need time to recover both physically and emotionally. How soon you recover from chemotherapy depends on factors such as your age, general health, the type of treatment you had and your individual recovery process. You can usually expect to feel better within a few months to a year of finishing chemotherapy treatment.

You can help speed up your recovery from chemotherapy by:

• Eating a healthy, nutritious diet: chemotherapy can reduce your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food, so following a healthy diet is important after treatment.
• Staying hydrated: drinking plenty of water and other fluids helps flush out toxins and aid your digestion.
• Reducing stress: stress reduction techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises and creative activities can help during your recovery from chemotherapy.
• Taking regular exercise: start with light activities like walking, gentle swimming and yoga and build up your activity level slowly.
• Getting plenty of rest and sleep: chemotherapy depletes your body’s energy reserves causing exhaustion and fatigue, so aim to get plenty of rest after your treatment.
• Practising good hygiene: chemotherapy weakens your immune system and increases your risk of infection, making it important to practice good hygiene.
• Keeping any follow-up appointments: your consultant will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your recovery and deal with any problems that may arise.

When will the side effects of chemotherapy stop?

Most of the side effects of chemotherapy, such as hair loss and nausea, will stop when you finish your treatment, and energy levels should return to normal within six months to a year. Some side effects of chemotherapy, known as late effects, may not occur until months or even years after treatment. These may include:

• Early menopause
• Infertility 
• Cognitive impairment (changes in your thinking, concentration and memory)
• Heart problems 
• Lung inflammation
• Nerve damage

How well your chemotherapy works depends on the type of cancer you have, the grade and stage of your cancer, your age and general health. Your consultant will explain how effective you can expect your chemotherapy treatment to be, based on your individual circumstances.

Chemotherapy is an effective treatment for several types of cancer, including testicular cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma, and may be used in combination with surgery for cancers such as breast cancer and bowel cancer.

As a cytotoxic drug, chemotherapy is toxic to cells and can kill healthy cells, such as those in your hair, intestines, skin and bone marrow, alongside cancer cells. As a result, you may experience some side effects when undergoing chemotherapy. Many side effects can be prevented or treated, so talk to your healthcare team if you experience any side effects during your chemotherapy treatment.

Your consultant will explain all possible side effects before you start chemotherapy, and can answer any questions you have about specific side effects and how to best cope with them in your consultation.

Common side effects of chemotherapy include:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hair loss
• Increased risk of infection due to a decreased number of white blood cells (neutropenia)
• Sore mouth
• Mouth ulcers
• Loss of appetite
• Bruising and bleeding easily
• Cognitive changes
• Shortness of breath
• Pallor (pale skin)
• Sore, dry or itchy skin
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation

At Circle Health Group, we have the experience and expertise to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients. As a patient with Circle Health Group, you can expect the highest standards of care including:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• A range of healthy, delicious meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about chemotherapy, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5499.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in December 2024. Next review due December 2026.

1. Chemotherapy to treat cancer, National Cancer Institute
2. Chemotherapy, NHS
3. Chemotherapy, Cancer Research UK
4. Chemotherapy, Macmillan Cancer Support
5. Pregnancy, contraception and chemotherapy, Cancer Research UK