Chemotherapy
in DUBAI
Treatment Options
Chemotherapy Treatment
Chemotherapy is an aggressive type of cancer therapy with the goal of destroying rapidly growing cancer cells in the body.
At King’s Cancer Care Centre, we offer expert Chemotherapy in Dubai to treat cancer effectively and provide the highest standard of care to our patients.
A healthy body replaces cells in a controlled manner through dividing and growing. However, when cancer occurs, the cells tend to reproduce in an uncontrolled manner.
As the body produces more cells than required, the newly produced cells start to occupy the space of the useful cells. Chemotherapy in Dubai interferes with the cancer cells’ ability to rapidly divide and produce.
What Does Chemotherapy Do?
Chemotherapy in Dubai drugs are primarily used to:
- Prevent cell division
- Shrink tumor size
- Minimize current symptoms
- Target the food source of the cancer cells (the hormones and enzymes they need to grow)
- Trigger apoptosis – suicide – of the cancer cells
An oncologist in Dubai may recommend chemotherapy in different scenarios, such as:
- After surgery or remission to kill any remaining cancer cells and prevent or delay a recurrence
- To slow the progression of cancer and reduce symptoms of the later stages, such as pain, if the cure is unlikely
- To prepare the patient for other types of treatments, such as radiation therapy
Apart from cancer treatment, Chemotherapy in Dubai can be used to prepare patients with bone marrow conditions for bone marrow stem cell treatment.
It can also be used for immune system disorders. Much lower doses than those used for cancer treatment may be used to treat diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Types of Chemotherapy
There are different types of chemotherapy, and these include:
- ALKYLATING AGENTS: These affect the DNA and kill the cancer cells at different stages of their cell life cycle.
- ANTIMETABOLITES: They mimic the proteins that the cells depend on to survive. They offer no benefit to the cells once they consume them, leading them to starve.
- PLANT ALKALOIDS: They prevent the cancer cells from growing and dividing..
- ANTITUMOR ANTIBIOTICS: These stop the cancer cells from reproducing.
Factors that determine the type of chemotherapy a patient will use and how well it’ll work are:
- Type, location, and stage of the cancer
- The patient’s age, overall health, and existing medical conditions, if any
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- Hair
- Skin
- Blood
- Lining in the intestinal tract
Due to this, the side effects of Chemotherapy in Dubai include:
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Mouth sores
- Easy bruising
- Excessive bleeding
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Infection
- Pain from nerve damage
- Constipation
- Anemia
- Lymphedema
- Neuropathy
- Skin and nail changes
- Concentration problems
- Memory problems
- Insomnia
- Fertility changes
- Sexual changes
Most side effects of chemotherapy usually subside when the treatment is over. However, there is some risk of developing long-lasting effects, which can develop even years after the treatment, depending on the type of chemotherapy administered.
These long-lasting side effects could affect the:
- Kidneys
- Heart
- Lungs
- Nerves
- Reproductive organs
There is also a chance that a patient can develop a second cancer once the chemotherapy has ended.
How Chemotherapy in Dubai is Performed?
The oncologist will make plans with the patient to specify the treatment sessions and how many they’ll need.
Chemotherapy in Dubai is typically given directly into the vein by IV or injection or in pill form.
There are other forms in which chemotherapy can be administered, and these include:
- Some forms of skin cancers can be treated with chemotherapy creams
- Oral medication as pills
- Chemotherapy drugs can be delivered directly into the tumor, but this depends on the tumor’s location.
- Chemotherapy drugs can be delivered through localized treatment into specific body parts, such as the chest, abdomen, central nervous system, or bladder via the urethra.
In some cases, the medication can be taken at home, such as pills, but regular hospital visits to monitor the progress of the treatment will still be needed.
It is important to tell your oncologist in Dubai about any side effects or treatment-related problems you may be having so that, if necessary, adjustments can be made to your treatment.
Next Steps
At King’s College Cancer Hospital Dubai, we focus on offering an exemplary service, including Chemotherapy in Dubai.
From initial consultation through to final diagnosis, treatment, and beyond, our multidisciplinary team of expert doctors, nurses, and technologists, led by Dr. Hassan Ghazal – an American triple board-certified Consultant Medical Oncologist and a Consultant Clinical Hematologist with more than 3 decades of clinical experience, are here to offer tailored management and treatment of your condition, and to answer any questions that you may have throughout your time with us.
Whatever you need us for, we’re only a phone call away.
