Chemotherapy is a type of treatment used to treat cancer. The thought of having chemotherapy may cause some anxiety, but knowing what chemotherapy is, how it works, and what to expect can often help relieve your fears. The information below is specific to your chemotherapy experience at West. Should you have any questions, please contact your physician, infusion nurse, or our care support coordinators at anytime.
Please know that infusion or chemotherapy treatments are not part of every patient’s care plan.
Your Infusion Appointment
Labs
When possible, have your labs drawn 1–3 days before treatment to help reduce your wait time.
Assessment
Your infusion nurse will take a quick assessment before ordering your medication from pharmacy to be mixed.
Medication Preparation
For your safety, we wait to mix your medications until we know you are okay to receive treatment. Your medication is prepared based on your current height, weight, and most recent lab results.
Your Infusion
Your nurse will start your treatment through an IV or port. Treatment times vary from about 15 minutes to several hours, depending on your treatment plan.