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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more|.
Find out how we produce our information|
Chemotherapy| is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. As the drugs are carried in the blood, they can reach cancer cells all over the body.
Chemotherapy may sometimes be given:
Certain types| of soft tissue sarcomas are always treated with chemotherapy. For other types it is very rarely used. Your doctor can tell you whether chemotherapy will be used to treat your type of soft tissue sarcoma.
Chemotherapy drugs are usually given by injection into a vein (intravenously) but sometimes can be given as tablets. The most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for soft tissue sarcomas are:
Other drugs which may be used include:
These drugs may be given in combination|.
Chemotherapy is given as a session (or cycle) of treatment. It will either be given as an outpatient or you may need to be admitted to hospital for a few days. Each treatment is followed by a rest period of a few weeks to allow your body to recover from any side effects. The number of cycles you have will depend on the type of sarcoma you have and how well it is responding to the drugs. If doxorubicin is given on its own you will be given it as an outpatient.
Our section on chemotherapy| has more information about the treatment, how it's given and possible side effects.
Chemotherapy can cause unpleasant side effects, but it affects everyone differently and any side effects that do occur can often be well controlled with medicines.
Chemotherapy can reduce the production of white blood cells by the bone marrow, making you more likely to get an infection|. This effect can begin about seven days after treatment has been given and your resistance to infection usually reaches its lowest point 10-14 days after chemotherapy. Your blood cells will then increase steadily and will usually have returned to normal before your next course of chemotherapy is due.
Contact your doctor or the hospital straight away if:
You will have a blood test before each cycle of chemotherapy, to make sure that your cells have recovered. If necessary, you may be given antibiotics to treat any infection. Occasionally it may be necessary to delay your treatment if your blood count is still low. .
Chemotherapy can also reduce the production of platelets, which help the blood to clot. Let your doctor know if you have any unexplained bruising or bleeding, such as nosebleeds, blood spots or rashes on the skin, or bleeding gums.
You may become anaemic. This may make you feel tired and breathless.
Some of the drugs used to treat soft tissue sarcomas may make people feel sick or even be sick. This can be helped by taking anti-sickness drugs (anti-emetics), which your doctor can prescribe. We have a section of information on controlling nausea and vomiting.|
Some chemotherapy drugs can make your mouth sore |and cause small ulcers. Regular mouthwashes are important and your nurse will show you how to do these properly.
You may find that food tastes different or everything tastes metallic. If you don’t feel like eating during treatment, you could try replacing some meals with nutritious drinks or a soft diet. Your sense of taste will gradually go back to normal once the treatment has ended. Our section on eating well| has some useful tips on coping with eating problems.
Some chemotherapy drugs may make your hair fall out which can be very upsetting. You can ask your doctor whether the drugs you are taking are likely to make your hair fall out. It may be possible to reduce the amount of hair that you lose by using scalp cooling. Cooling the scalp during chemotherapy means that fewer chemotherapy drugs reach the hair follicles, and so the hair is less likely to fall out. We have more information about scalp cooling|.
If your hair falls out, it almost always grows back over a period of 3-6 months once your treatment has finished. There are many ways of covering up by wearing wigs, hats or scarves. You may be entitled to a free wig from the National Health Service. Your doctor, or the nurse looking after you, will be able to arrange a wig for you. We have a section on coping with hair loss| which you might find useful.
Chemotherapy affects people in different ways. Some people find they are able to lead a fairly normal life during their treatment, but many become very tired and have to take things much more slowly. Just do as much as you feel like and try not to overdo it. Our section on coping with fatigue gives useful tips on how to cope with tiredness.
Although they may be hard to bear at the time, these side effects will disappear over a few months once your treatment is over.
Your ability to become pregnant or father a child may be affected by some of the chemotherapy drugs used to treat sarcomas. It’s important to discuss fertility| with your nurse or doctor before starting treatment as it may be possible for men to store sperm| and women to store eggs or embryos| for use in the future.
Some women may find that the chemotherapy treatment causes an early menopause, and they may have the signs of the menopause, such as hot flushes and sweats. In many cases, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) can be given to replace the hormones that are no longer being produced. Women with gynaecological sarcomas may not be able to have HRT because the cancer may be sensitive to hormones.
You may find it helpful to talk all this through with your doctor or a support organisation|.
It’s not advisable to become pregnant or father a child while having any of the chemotherapy drugs used to treat sarcomas, as they may harm the developing foetus. It is important to use effective contraception during your treatment and for up to a year afterwards. You can discuss this with your doctor or specialist nurse.
Condoms should be used during sex within the first 48 hours after chemotherapy, to protect your partner from any of the drug that may be present in semen or vaginal fluid. Again, you can discuss this with your doctor.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.