Understanding Cancer Treatments
Depending on your circumstances different treatments and/or combinations of treatment will be discussed with you. An individualised treatment and management plan will be formulated at your first appointment.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is usually prescribed in a specific number of cycles given over a period of time.
Chemotherapy treatment plans are formulated in accordance with national guidelines such as those approved by the NSW Cancer Institute. Chemotherapy is often an effective treatment however it can cause side effects because the drugs also affect healthy cells. Many of the new chemotherapy drugs now available do not cause the same severity of side effects as the older drugs. Although the side effects are often unpleasant they are not related to the effectiveness of the treatment and generally go away after treatments are finished. To read more about side effects click on this link to eviQ (to access this information on the site you will need to register which is free of charge).
There are a number of websites which contains a wealth of information on many aspects of cancer and chemotherapy:
Cancer Australia
The Cancer Australia website is a national government agency, and contains a wealth of information. You will find information about:
eviQ Cancer Treatments Online
eviQ Cancer Treatments Online provides patients, carers and family with accurate, current, relevant, and evidence based information about specific cancer treatments, side-effects and how to manage them, and lists of websites dealing with specific cancers.
To access this information on the site you will need to register (free of charge). To register click here eviQ
Cancer Council Australia
The Cancer Council Australia website has a wealth of information on many aspects of chemotherapy, side- effects and lifestyle choices and changes with the diagnosis of cancer. Please click on the link: Cancer Council Australia
Macmillan Cancer Support, United Kingdom
Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care information and support to people affected by cancer.
You’ll find out information about what to expect, get practical advice and support, hear from health experts, and read about other people's experiences.
You will find easy to read information about chemotherapy by clicking here: Macmillan Cancer Support
Clinical Trials
Our specialist trials consulting clinic is located at the Lismore Base Hospital:
Cancer Care Unit Ground Floor
North Coast Cancer Institute
70-72 Hunter Street,
Lismore NSW 2480
Phone: (02) 6629 4559 or (02) 6629 4438
Hours: 8:30am tp 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Nurse Unit Manager: Sonia Byrne
What is a Clinical Trial?
Cancer clinical trials are carefully designed research studies that investigate a new test or treatment for cancer in people. Trials may look at whether a treatment is safe, its side effects or how well a treatment or procedure works. Some trials look at how well treatments control symptoms or whether they improve quality of life.
Clinical trials are an important way to improve treatment for people with cancer. Trials are the only reliable way that doctors and patients can find out the effects of different treatments. Trials tell us if a new treatment is more effective than the current standard treatment and they also identify risks and side effects. A new treatment will only become the new standard after it has been proved effective and safe in clinical trials, and shown to be better than other treatments (from Australian Government: Cancer Australia).
Current Clinical Trials
Currently being updated for 2019.