Your oncology team will review the schedule for your drug therapy. Schedules may change for many reasons. We ask that you be as flexible as possible with treatment days and times. Please notify the scheduler in advance with your preference in location and time, but unexpected events about your treatment and/or the treatments of other patients can often cause delays. You may have less stress if you do not make other commitments on the day of your infusion appointment.
Meet with your medical oncologist
During an initial consultation, your provider meets with you to:
- Explain the findings from imaging and pathology and what they mean for your treatment. You will have a confirmed diagnosis from surgery or from a biopsy prior to starting treatment.
- Your provider will discuss recommendations for the timing of drug therapy and other treatments.
- Explain the details of recommended drug therapy options, including potential side effects and ways to manage those side effects.
Tests before treatment
You may need some tests before starting your treatment. These help the doctors make sure you’re well enough to have your treatment. They will usually include blood tests and maybe urine or heart tests. Sometimes, you may also need to have x-rays or scans before treatment starts. Before each cycle of treatment, expect to have a blood test and to see the doctor or APP. This may be on the day of your treatment or a day or two before it. They will check your blood results and ask you how you have felt since your last treatment.
Develop a treatment plan and meet with other cancer care teams, if needed
If your treatment plan includes radiation therapy, you will meet with radiation oncology. In these visits, your care team will work with you to plan the additional treatment to take place after drug therapy or surgery.
Work with your team to develop your drug therapy plan
Your care team considers the details of your diagnosis and makes specific recommendations for drug therapy. Your medical oncologist will discuss these options with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy and other novel therapies being evaluated in clinical trial
Your chemotherapy will be given orally, which means it will be delivered to your home to take as you would other prescribed oral medications. Some treatment is given in the ITA (Infusion Treatment Area) which is located at one of our 3 locations. The team will discuss this in detail if this becomes part of your treatment plan.
Stanford Cancer Center infusion treatment locations
- 875 Blake Wilbur Drive
Second floor
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: 650-725-1860
- 450 Broadway Street
Pavilion B35, third floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-724-6140
- 2589 Samaritan Drive
Fourth floor
San Jose, CA 95124
Phone: 408-426-4900
Considering a mediport
Along with the chemotherapy you will be receiving fluids to hydrate you and medications to help prevent nausea and sometimes allergy symptoms (ex. itching). If your IV access is difficult or painful for you, ask us about a central venous port (a more permanent IV access that is placed under the skin to be used for blood draws and chemotherapy). The port can be surgically removed when you complete all of your IV treatments.
Dental care
We recommend a routine dental cleaning before starting chemotherapy. It is best to avoid elective, invasive procedures while in treatment to prevent the risk of bleeding or infection.
Published April 2018
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