Chemotherapy uses various drugs to cure cancer. Generally only one drug or a combination of drugs is used for the treatment. The drug enters the body through the blood stream and cures the cancer. In the process of destroying the cancer cells, the medications also destroy some healthy cells in the body. This leads to various side effects that patients experience during the course of the treatment. The treatment for this reason is given in cycles, with adequate amount of rest period in between the cycles, giving ample time for the healthy cells to recover. Stopping chemotherapy treatment is a very difficult decision which is generally made by medical advisors. The decision depends on various factors.

Chemotherapy drugs and the dosage are prescribed on various factors. The type of cancer, its stage, patients overall health and the progression of the disease are taken into consideration before prescribing a particular drug. The type of treatment can also be decided based on this factor. Doctors also check if there are any new treatments that have been used to cure a particular type of cancer matching with the patient’s condition. A lot of tests and checkups need to be done by the patients before the treatment as well as throughout the treatment to check if the medications are showing improvement to eradicate the cancer cells and simplify the life after chemotherapy for the patients.

Although chemotherapy is very popular and effective treatment to cure cancer, the treatment gives various side effects such as sickness, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, and diarrhea, loss of memory and concentration problems to name to few. Although doctors prescribe a few medications to lessen some common side effects, patients might experience other side effects as well. In some cases the side effects go to such extreme levels that the treatment needs to be stopped abruptly. After proper examinations and if the patients feel better after some time the treatment can be continued. But there are chances that by that time the cancer cells might grow abundantly making the treatment very difficult. In such cases keeping the disease in mind and how fast the spread multiply some other methods of treatment can be started.

Patient’s age has to be also borne in mind before starting the treatment. Older people and people who have other health problems apart from cancer are unable to tolerate the side effects compared to young people. Older people rather choose a treatment that is comfortable than to stay alive for a longer time.

The progress of the disease is another factor that is considered while deciding whether to continue the treatment or modify it. Patient’s prognosis would help the doctors to determine if chemotherapy is appropriate for the treatment. Patients can even consult with other doctors for a second opinion because in some cases it is difficult for the doctors to estimate prognosis.

In some cases the treatment is stopped in order to control the symptoms that are associated with chemotherapy. This is known as palliative care. When patients ask doctors to completely focus on palliative chemotherapy care, more emphasis is laid on comfort than curing the disease. A team of doctors or medical advisors would concentrate on managing the symptoms and providing as much relief as possible to the patients. Symptoms such as nausea, pain, fever, loss of appetite and breathing problems are the ones which make the patients feel dreaded. In some cases it is so extreme that patients loose all the hopes of survival. Most of them go into depression because of their unhealthy state and also try to end their lives. In such cases, reliving the symptoms becomes the only option for doctors or medical advisors instead of curing the cancer.

Patients need to talk freely to the doctors about all the symptoms they are experiencing and what makes them feel uncomfortable. In some cases palliative care is combined with other treatments that could aid in prolonging the life of cancer patients.

The decision to stop chemotherapy can be also taken by medical advisors if they feel that the cancer cannot be cured and the doctors and patients feel that the symptoms or side effects coming from the medication should be stopped. Most patients opt to discontinue chemotherapy in order to increase the quality of life. They try to focus on relieving their sufferings in order to solve their emotional, physical and spiritual needs.