Cancer 101

• What is Chemotherapy?

  What is Chemotherapy?
  Your doctor may prescribe chemotherapy drugs to treat your cancer. These drugs are designed to kill cancer cells but may also harm some healthy cells, which may cause side effects. Please review the list on the next page carefully so you will known when to call the CMC Cancer Center. If you are still unsure if you should call, please call to be on the safe side.

  What does Chemotherapy do?
  Chemotherapy, depending on the type of cancer you have and stage can: cure cancer, control cancer, or ease cancer symptoms. Sometimes chemotherapy is used alone of in combination with other treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy or biological therapy. The chemo therapy that is chosen for you by the doctor depends on the typer of cancer you have, whether you have had chemotherapy before, and whether you have other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.

  How is Chemotherapy given?
  Chemotherapy may be given in many ways. We administer chemotherapy through an IV or in a pill form.

  If you will be taking an oral chemotherapy medication (pill), it is of utmost importance that you take this medication according to the schedule prescribed for you. Missing a dose or taking too much of these medications can be very dangerous.

  You will be given a treatment calendar with daily instructions. Please post this on your refrigerator or somewhere that you will see it daily. Chemotherapy schedules vary. How often and how long you get chemotherapy depends on the type of cancer, the goals of treatment, the type of chemotherapy, or how your body reacts. Chemotherapy is given in cycles. A cycle is a period of chemotherapy treatments followed by a period of rest.

  We also have a Pharmacist on staff here if you have further questions about any medications. Also, remember to take any prescribed medications as previously ordered by your other doctors, unless directed not to do so. You are allowed to eat and drink prior to chemo and please take or bring with you any pain medication that you are currently taking.

  What can I expect when I visit?
  Before your IV chemotherapy starts, you will:
  •Have a blood sample taken
  •Meet with your oncologist. He or she will check your health and the results of your blood tests and order the chemotherapy
  •Meet the nurse or other health professionals who will give it
  •Have a short physical exam to check your blood pressure, pulse, breathing, and temperature
  •Have your height and weight measured to find the right doses of chemotherapy
  •Have an IV tube put in your arm

  How is Chemotherapy administered?
  Chemotherapy can be given through a needle into a vein. This is called intravenous or IV chemotherapy. It can also be available through pills that you take by mouth. This is called oral chemotherapy. Or, it can be given as a medication you put on your skin, called topical chemotherapy. Prior to you receiving treatment, your team will tell you what to eat, drink, or avoid on chemotherapy days so the treatment will work best. Tell your doctor about any prescription and non-prescription medicines you take. This includes vitamins and other supplements, such as herbs.

  Receiving Chemotherapy through a Port
  Before your first appointment, you might have minor surgery to put in a port. This is a round metal or plastic disk that the IV goes in during treatment. With a port, your nurse does not need to find a vein to put the IV in for every treatment. Learn more about catheters and ports.

  How long does IV Chemotherapy take?
  Your IV chemotherapy can take minutes, hours, or several days if you have continuous infusion chemotherapy. You do not need to stay at the hospital or clinic for continuous infusion. The nurse will give you medication to prevent side effects such as nausea or possible allergic reactions. Then you get your chemotherapy medications.
  To get the full benefit of chemotherapy, it is important to follow the schedule of treatments recommended by your doctor.

  After your IV Chemotherapy
  After your treatment is finished, the nurse or another team member will take out your IV. If you have a port, it will stay until you finish all of your treatments. The nurse will check your blood pressure, pulse, breathing, and temperature again.

  Your oncologist or nurse will also talk with you about side effects. They will give you medication, tips to manage side effects, and other tips. For example, they may tell you to:
  •Avoid being around people with colds or other infections. Chemotherapy weakens your body’s immune system, which helps fight infections.
  •Drink lots of fluids for 48 hours after chemotherapy. This helps move the drugs through your body.

  Your health care team can tell you what activities to do or avoid on treatment days.

  Before you leave your first treatment, ask who you should call with any questions or concerns and get their phone number.

• Chemotherapy Side Effects

  Chemotherapy Can Cause Side Effects
  Chemotherapy not only kills fast-growing cancer cells, but also kills or slows the growth of healthy cells that grow and divide quickly. Examples are cells that line your mouth and intestines and those that cause your hair to grow. 

  

  Side effects often get better or go away after you have finished chemotherapy.

  The most common side effect is fatigue, which is feeling exhausted and worn out. You can prepare for fatigue by:
  •Asking someone to drive you to and from chemotherapy
  •Planning time to rest on the day of and day after chemotherapy
  •Asking for help with meals and childcare on the day of and at least one day after chemotherapy

  Preparing for Side Effects
  There are many ways you can help manage chemotherapy side effects. Depending on the most common side effects of your chemotherapy, your doctor may recommend planning for nausea and vomiting, hair loss, reproductive issues, and other side effects. An important part of cancer care is relieving side effects. This is called palliative care or supportive care. It is important to talk with your health care team about the specific side effects you experience and the best ways to manage and treat them.

• Your First Appointment

  What Should I bring to my First Chemotherapy Treatment?
  •Family Member or Friend
  •Medications
  •Preferred Snacks
  •iPads, Tablets, Music, Cards, and/or Gaming Devices (please bring earbuds)*
  •Puzzle Books, Magazines, Journals, and/or Novels*
  •Knitting, Cross Stitch, or Other Small Crafts (please no paint or glue)*
  *These items are only suggested to pass the time in our facility, if desired.

  What can I expect when I visit?
  Before your IV chemotherapy starts, you will:
  •Have a blood sample taken
  •Meet with your oncologist. He or she will check your health and the results of your blood tests and order the chemotherapy
  •Meet the nurse or other health professionals who will give it
  •Have a short physical exam to check your blood pressure, pulse, breathing, and temperature
  •Have your height and weight measured to find the right doses of chemotherapy
  •Have an IV tube put in your arm

• CMC Palliative Care

  “Palliative Care has been shown to improve quality of life by focusing on detailed management of physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Our goal is to assist you by providing you with information about your disease and treatment options so that you can establish your treatment goals, and make the best possible decisions for your care and quality of life.”

  Being diagnosed with a serious illness is sometimes overwhelming. We are here to help you navigate a complex healthcare system and assist you in deciding which treatment options are right for you.
  Our primary goal is to improve your quality of life throughout the course of your illness.

  We want to know what matters most to you and assist you in getting there.  Please contact us for any concerns at 843-234-7630.

  Palliative Care is a supportive service that delivers specialized medical care for people with a serious chronic illness or an acute life-threatening illness.

  Palliative Care can be given along with curative treatment from the time of diagnosis throughout the course of treatment. It does not depend on prognosis.

  Our team works closely with all your healthcare professionals to provide you the best care possible.

  Our team provides our patients with…
  •Symptom management, including pain and stress, related to a serious illness.
  •Assistance with medical decision making and establishing goals of care.
  •Improved communication and care coordination.

  How is Palliative Care different from Hospice?
  Palliative care does not mean end-of-life care. Palliative care can be beneficial to you from the moment you are diagnosed, and the availability of palliative care does not depend on whether or not your illness can be cured. The goal of palliative care is to make you as comfortable as possible and improve your quality of life throughout the course of treatment.

  Recent studies show that patients who receive palliative care report improvement in:
  •Pain and other distressing symptoms, such as nausea or shortness of breath.
  •Communication with their doctors and family members.
  •Emotional support.

  How do I know if I need Palliative Care?
  There is no reason to wait. Serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease or kidney failure along with their treatments can cause exhaustion, anxiety and depression. At Conway Medical Center, our Palliative Care Team is here to provide additional support while working with your primary care team to achieve your healthcare goals.
  You may want to consider palliative care if you or your loved one:
  •Suffers from pain or other symptoms due to ANY serious illness.
  •Experiences physical or emotional pain that is NOT under control.
  •Needs help understanding your situation and coordinating your care.

  Palliative care gives you a chance to live your life more comfortably.
  Palliative care provides relief from distressing symptoms including pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, problems with sleep and many other symptoms. It can also help you deal with the side effects of the medical treatments you’re receiving. Perhaps, most importantly, palliative care can help improve your quality of life.

• Resources

  CMC Breast Cancer Support Group

  At the CMC Center for Breast Health, we strive to not only have the best breast health services available for our community, but to also offer continuing education and support for newly diagnosed patients, cancer survivors, and their families. We offer monthly support group meetings to help patients deal with the issues that may be experienced after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Updates and information are continuously added to the Breast Cancer Support Group page. We believe an educated patient is an empowered patient and our education and support network hopes to share information and awareness to help our patients reach their maximum potential.

  Outpatient Nutrition Services

  Conway Medical Center offers Outpatient Nutrition Services for patients at nutritional risk. If you have been prescribed a special diet by your physician or if you want to learn more about healthy eating, CMC can help. We provide individualized medical nutritional therapy with a registered dietitian for people of all ages who have specific nutritional needs.

  Guided by our registered dietitians, our caring and professional staff will give you the necessary steps and tools to acquire healthy eating habits and make the correct choices for best nutritional values targeted to your individual diagnosis.

  A physician’s order is required to schedule an appointment with CMC Outpatient Nutrition Counseling Services. The physician’s order can be faxed to our Central Scheduling Department at 843-234-5016. Please also submit your insurance card/information so we can determine if nutrition counseling is covered under your insurance plan and advise you of any co-payment or payment that will be needed. If you need to contact our Central Scheduling Department, their direct line is 843-234-5474.

  If you would like additional information about our Outpatient Nutrition Counseling Service, please call 843-347-8241.

  CMC Rehabilitation Services

  Physical Therapy
  In order to maintain the highest possible quality of care, only licensed highly trained, professional personnel provide services here.

  Our therapists work with the most advanced technology available and, through continuing professional education programs, are constantly exposed to the latest techniques. Perhaps even more importantly our therapists are committed to providing the warmth and compassion necessary to support patients and their families.

  Physical therapy helps patients return to a more normal, active life as quickly as possible by improving and maximizing physical strength and functioning. To accomplish this goal our physical therapy staff first thoroughly evaluates each patient’s dysfunction, Individual goals and treatment programs are developed in conjunction with the referring physician, the patient, the patient’s family and other members of the rehabilitative team. With the help of these programs patients return to a more normal active life.

  Our state-of-the-art facilities are located in the Rehabilitation Services building across from the CMC Emergency Department in Aynor and in Carolina Forest. Complete with the most modern equipment available in the area, and staffed with certified therapists, our facilities afford patients the best opportunity to achieve their desired goals and recover to a higher degree of functioning.

  Contact Rehabilitation Services at 843-347-8066 or visit one of their three locations:

  Conway
  Rehabilitation Services Building
  2369 Cypress Circle
  Conway, SC 29526
  (directly across from the CMC Emergency Department in the CMC Rehabilitation Services Building)
  Please fax referrals for this office to 843-234-5114.

  Aynor
  51 11th Ave
  Aynor, SC 29511
  Please fax referrals for the Aynor office to 843-234-7495.

  Carolina Forest
  4999 Carolina Forest Blvd., Suite 9
  Myrtle Beach, SC
  Please fax referrals for the Carolina Forest office to 843-236-8823.

  Community Resources

  American Cancer Society
  The American Cancer Society has programs and services to help you manage cancer treatment and recovery and find the emotional support you need. And best of all, their help is free. Should you need transportation, wigs, lodging, etc., the American Cancer Society is here to assist you through the process.

  Find programs and services in South Carolina.

  Marlisa’s Wig Studio & Day Spa
  Marlisa’s wig studio mission is to provide their clients with a vast selection of the finest quality alternative hair products on the market, while nurturing lasting relationships and offering caring, friendly, expert advise with world class customer service in a inviting caring, and professional atmosphere. They are in the business of changing lives everyday one strand at a time. Unmatched quality and selection.

  Marlisa provides free wigs for cancer patients thru her Bold & Beautiful Wigs for Cancer program. The Bold & Beautiful Buddies program provides free wigs, free hairpieces and free hats to children undergoing cancer treatment.

  Marlisa’s is located at 1561 US-17 Little River, SC 29566 and can be reached at 843-651-4504.  Discover more information.

  The Wig Shop
  With over 200 wigs on display, The Wig Shop is sure to fit all of your needs. The Wig Shop has been serving the Grand Strand and surrounding area for over 17 years. It is located at 5180 US Highway 17 Bypass South Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.

  The Wig Shop is involved in Breast Cancer Awareness and helping clients going through chemotherapy. They specialize in working with client needs from the side effects of chemotherapy, alopecia, lupus, natural hair loss and from medication use.

  For more information, contact The Wig Shop at 843-651-4504 or visit wigshopsc.com.

  Freedom From Smoking Classes
  CMC wants to help you quit smoking and gain better health. In addition to our pulmonary rehabilitation services, we offer Freedom from Smoking classes at schedule times throughout the year. The Freedom From Smoking program is an 8 session program developed by the American Lung Association. The program will guide you through 4 sessions preparing you to quit followed by 4 sessions to provide you with support and assistance with staying free from smoking. The cost for the series is $50 due the first session of class. Although the first steps can be hard, finding your path to a smoke free life is easier with the right help. The Freedom From Smoking program at CMC is a proven way to quit smoking—and stay quit—even if you’ve tried before and went back to smoking.

  To register for the next class series, please call 843-234-7401.  Discover more information.