The time and duration for which the chemotherapy drugs are being administered is the entire course of chemotherapy. The dose or the intensity of chemotherapy drugs to be given depends on: physical health of the patient, the seriousness of the cancer and the degree of its evasiveness. Some chemotherapy drugs are given orally to be gulped with the help of water. More strong drugs are administered in the clinic by planting a catheter in the chest or arms, enabling them to reach the veins directly. The dose when introduced in hospital might take few hours to few days.

Some cancer patients receive a mild dose that could finish in few hours and one sitting where as many course of chemotherapy requires a repeated dose. It constitutes of few cycles over a period of four to six months. Doctors often choose to administer a combination of chemotherapy drugs. Cancer cells are very likely to become resistant to one drug. Hence varying the type of chemotherapy drugs is a possible solution. A combination of chemotherapy drugs require a proper regimen or schedule to be infused. The combination of chemotherapy drugs often consists of few cycles separated by a rest period of few weeks.

Chemotherapy is ideally given after a surgery or in accordance with radiation therapy. This is called Adjuvant Chemotherapy. In other case it is given before a surgery to reduce the size of the tumor. This increases the chances of successful remission after surgery. The course of chemotherapy hence is determined by the type of chemotherapy that is to be administered.

Cancer patients many a times complaint of some unusual reactions after chemotherapy. These could be hair loss, anemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc. One serious concern after chemotherapy is the drop in number of Neutrophils or WBC cells which govern the immunity of the body. The cancer patients are very susceptible to be inflicted by a mild infection as the body becomes very weak to fight any invading disease. It is thus imperative that doctors give a proper rest to patients who repetitively encounter a sudden drop in the number of WBC Cells. Once the condition is regained one could resume their treatment. The self health of the patient thus delays the dose and course of chemotherapy.

Some side effects of chemotherapy are immediate while others are delayed. In longer run chemotherapy drugs could impact your heart, kidneys and nerve conduction. A healthy patient could withstand a single dose of chemotherapy. The weak and aged people however are to be carefully monitored during the entire course of chemotherapy.