If your medical oncologist determines that you need treatment, he or she will meet with you and your family to create an individualized treatment plan. Chemotherapy (using specialized drugs to kill cancer cells) is almost always used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. It usually includes a combination of drugs that are given orally or by injection. Your doctor will monitor your progress throughout the course of treatment, adjusting your medication as needed. The goal of chemotherapy is to keep the cancer under control for as long as possible.
Managing Treatment Side Effects
Cancer treatment often produces unwanted side effects. The severity of these side effects depends on the type and extent of the treatment. Side effects vary from person to person, and may change from one treatment session to the next. Your team will work closely with you to weigh the benefits of treatment versus the adverse side effects the treatment may produce. The team will help you manage any symptoms or side effects that may occur.
Outpatient treatment offers comfort and convenience
Most of our patients are treated on an outpatient basis. The treatment area is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Expert nurses and physicians are available at any time, day or night, to answer questions about your care or help you manage issues that may arise after treatment. For our Patients' convenience, some procedures can take place over the weekend and overnight.
Our treatment area is designed to provide ultimate comfort with oversized recliners and private rooms complete with telephone, flat panel televisions with Direct TV and movies, WiFi wireless internet access, books, magazines, refreshments, and extra seating for visitors.
If you have complications at home or require immediate attention, the Cancer Center is equipped to stabilize and provide treatment, so a visit to the hospital Emergency Department is usually unnecessary. This approach to care allows you to maintain a more normal routine and lifestyle. However, if you require hospitalization, your SVCCC Myeloma Team will continue to direct your care.
On-site lab and pharmacy
Throughout the course of your treatment, your doctor may request routine blood draws. SVCCC has its own clinical laboratory making it easy and convenient to get your blood drawn, as well as allowing for a faster turnaround of lab results. In many cases, results are delivered to the doctor that same day. Chemotherapy drugs are prepared on-site for immediate use. These amenities are designed to enhance the quality of care and minimize the time you spend at the Cancer Center receiving treatment.
