Getting a cancer diagnosis changes everything. Suddenly, you're hearing medical terms you don't understand. Chemotherapy is one of them. If your oncologist has recommended this treatment, you probably have questions. What happens during chemotherapy? How will it affect your daily life? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about  Chemotherapy Singapore, from the treatment process to managing side effects.

What Is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy uses powerful medications to kill cancer cells. That's the simple version. The reality? It's more complex than most people think.

Your body has cells that divide and grow constantly. Hair cells. Skin cells. Blood cells. Cancer cells do this too, but without any control. They just keep multiplying. Chemotherapy Singapore treatments work by targeting these rapidly dividing cells. The drugs travel through your bloodstream, reaching cancer cells throughout your body.

But here's the thing. Chemo can't always tell the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells that divide quickly. That's why side effects happen.

How Does Treatment Actually Work?

Dr. Lim Hwee Yong at Novena Cancer Centre has over 25 years of experience administering chemotherapy. He explains that each patient gets a customized treatment plan. No two are exactly alike.

Some people get chemotherapy through an IV. Others take pills. The schedule varies too. You might have treatment once a week. Or every three weeks. Some patients come in for several days in a row, then get a break.

The cycles matter. Your body needs time to recover between treatments. That's when healthy cells repair themselves.

Different Types of Chemotherapy

Not all chemo drugs work the same way. Some attack cancer cells during specific growth phases. Others work regardless of the cell cycle. Your oncologist combines different drugs to maximize effectiveness.

At a Cancer Clinic Singapore like Novena Cancer Centre, the medical team uses various chemotherapy types. Alkylating agents. Antimetabolites. Plant alkaloids. Each serves a different purpose.

Dr. Lim specializes in gastrointestinal, lung, and breast cancers. His expertise in genomic mutational targeting means he can select the most effective drugs for your specific cancer type.

What to Expect During Treatment

Walking into your first chemotherapy session feels overwhelming. Most facilities, including Novena Cancer Centre, have comfortable treatment rooms with recliners. You can watch TV. Bring a book. Have someone sit with you.

The actual infusion can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Depends on the drugs. A nurse monitors you the entire time. They check your vital signs. Make sure you're comfortable.

Before each cycle, you'll have blood tests. These check your blood cell counts. If they're too low, treatment might get delayed. This is normal. Frustrating, yes. But necessary.

Managing Side Effects

Let's talk about what nobody wants to discuss but everyone worries about. Side effects.

Hair loss happens. Not with all chemo drugs, but with many. Usually starts two to three weeks after the first treatment. Some people shave their heads preemptively. Others wait. There's no right answer.

Nausea used to be terrible. Now? Anti-nausea medications have improved dramatically. You'll likely get them before, during, and after treatment.

Fatigue hits hard. Not just tired. Exhausted. The kind where climbing stairs feels like running a marathon. Rest when you need to. Don't fight it.

Chemotherapy Singapore centers provide support for managing these effects. Nurses at Novena Cancer Centre offer practical tips. When to call the doctor. How to handle mouth sores. What foods to eat.

Treatment Success and Monitoring

How do you know if it's working? Regular scans. Blood tests. Physical exams. Your oncologist at a Cancer Clinic Singapore tracks tumor markers and imaging results.

Sometimes tumors shrink quickly. Other times, progress is slower. The goal might be cure. Or control. Or symptom relief. Each situation is different.

Treatment is hard. Really hard. But thousands of people complete it successfully every year. With the right medical team and support system, you can too.