Chemotherapy at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla
Chemotherapy uses medicines that find and destroy cells that divide fast, which is a key trait of cancer. It can be given alone or with surgery and radiation, depending on the cancer type, its stage, and the goal of treatment. At CritiCare Asia Hospitals, a cancer hospital in Mumbai, our team explains each choice in plain words. Chemotherapy is systemic, which means the medicine travels through the blood and can reach cancer cells that have spread beyond the first tumour. Radiation treats only one area, and targeted therapy aims at specific markers on cancer cells. Patients get advanced chemotherapy treatment in Kurla, Mumbai, based on the type and stage of their cancer.
Common Side Effects and How They Are Managed
Side effects depend on the medicine, the dose and the person. Some are common enough to prepare for.
Nausea, tiredness and changes in appetite: reported most often, and usually eased with supportive medicines
Hair loss, mouth sores and changes in taste: upsetting, but mostly temporary
Low blood counts, which raise the risk of infection: this needs the closest attention
Most side effects can be handled at home with guidance from the care team. Fever, vomiting that does not stop, or signs of infection are different. Call the hospital right away. Anti-nausea medicines are often prescribed along with chemotherapy to ease the load. Our team of medical oncologists in Kurla, Mumbai guides patients through this.
What Happens in a Chemotherapy Session
Each session begins with blood tests. Doctors check blood counts and how well organs are working to make sure the body is ready. This is a safety step, not a formality. Then come preparation, the infusion (medicine given slowly through a vein), and a short period of watching for reactions.
Chemotherapy is given in cycles, with rest days between them so the body can recover. For example, six cycles every three weeks take about four to five months. This helps you plan work, travel and family care. The best oncologists in Mumbai at our hospital can explain your schedule in detail.
Looking After Yourself Between Cycles
The days between sessions matter as much as the sessions. The body's defences dip at certain times, so food and hygiene need care:
Eat well-cooked food
Wash hands often
Avoid crowded places when blood counts are low
Tiredness is real, so rest when you need to. Resting is part of treatment. Family members can help by watching for unusual breathlessness, fever or withdrawn behaviour, and calling the care team without waiting.
When Is Chemotherapy Used?
- Curative
given with surgery to remove cancer cells and lower the chance of the cancer returning - Palliative
given to ease symptoms and slow the disease when cure is not the main goal - Neoadjuvant
given before surgery to shrink a tumour, which can sometimes make surgery possible - Adjuvant
given after surgery to clear leftover cancer cells too small to see on scans
When surgery is not possible, chemotherapy may be the main treatment.
How Chemotherapy Is Given
Some medicines come as pills taken at home on a fixed schedule. Others are given by IV infusion, straight into the blood, at the hospital. Whether you come as a day patient or stay in hospital depends on the medicine, the dose, and how closely the response must be watched.
For longer IV courses, a port or PICC line may be placed under the skin. This is a small device that lets nurses reach a vein again and again without a fresh needle each time. Placing it is a minor procedure, and it makes many cycles easier.
Chemotherapy at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla
Chemotherapy means many visits over many months, so cost and access matter. Before treatment starts, our team explains the estimate and the insurance or cashless process. Patients usually ask the same things. Will hair fall out? That depends on the medicines. Not every plan causes it, and hair often grows back after treatment ends. Can I keep working? Often yes, by planning around your cycles. Is it safe to be near children or pets? Generally yes, with extra care when blood counts are low. Our oncology team answers these before day one. For advanced chemotherapy in Kurla, Mumbai, speak with our team.