Service Details

Chemotherapy is usually given in one of two ways:

• by mouth (orally)
• by injection (intravenously) into a vein using a syringe or an infusion (also known as a ‘drip’)

Occasionally, a drug may be injected into a muscle or under the skin. Sometimes it can be injected into your spine (intrathecal chemotherapy), lungs or bladder, if that is where treatment is needed. You may have one drug, several drugs or different drugs given at different times. You may have tablets or injections or both.

Oral chemotherapy

Some chemotherapy drugs can be taken as tablets or capsules, which means you can continue your treatment at home. You will still need to visit the outpatient department for regular check-ups.

How is chemotherapy given into a vein?

When chemotherapy is given intravenously (into a vein), it is given through a ‘venous access device’.

There are several different types of devices available. These include:

Cannula

A cannula is a small tube which is put into a vein in your lower arm or the back of your hand. It is inserted at the beginning of each treatment and removed after the chemotherapy has been given. Once the cannula has been taped to your arm, the chemotherapy drugs can be injected slowly into the vein through it. Sometimes the drugs are diluted and given through a ‘drip’ (called ‘intravenous infusion’) into a vein in your arm.

Some treatment drugs cannot be given into the vein of the hand or the arm and can only be given through a central venous access device.

Skin-tunnelled catheter (sometimes called a Hickman line)

This is a fine tube which is inserted through your chest into a large vein leading to your heart. It can be left in place for several weeks or months. As well as using it to give you fluids and drugs, it may also be used to take blood samples.

Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)

This is inserted into a vein in your arm, above the bend in the elbow. A PICC goes into the large vein leading to your heart and can be used to give you drugs and to take blood samples.

Implanted port

This device is inserted under the skin into your body, usually on the chest. The port is made up of a portal body (or chamber) which is connected via a thin tube inserted into one of the body’s veins. A special needle is used to get into the chamber which can then be attached to a drip for injections, drips or blood tests.

You may be able to choose the type of device you have, however your choice will depend on the type of therapy you are going to have, your physical condition and your lifestyle. Sometimes a choice isn’t possible.

How long does it take to give intravenous chemotherapy?

Depending on the drug or combination of drugs, each cycle lasts from a few hours to a few days.

Your doctor may recommend your chemotherapy is given continuously at a lower dose, over weeks or months. This keeps a steady level of the drug in your bloodstream. You will receive the drug from a small infusion pump while you are at home.