Infusion Therapy: Not Just for Chemotherapy
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Infusion therapy is a major innovation in modern medicine. Used to administer chemotherapy and other oncology therapies, infusion treatment is critical in the fight against cancer, but it can also be used to treat a wide range of different conditions. At Regional Cancer Care Associates, infusion therapy is one of the many treatments offered by an expert medical team. With multiple locations, Regional Cancer Care Associates offers expert, compassionate care for patients throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C. area.
What Is Infusion Therapy?Infusion therapy refers to drug treatment that is given intravenously, as opposed to taking pills, liquids, or medicines that are inhaled or applied to the skin. While chemotherapy is one of the more common forms of infusion therapy, many medications can be administered intravenously.
Chemotherapy can help kill existing cancer cells, stop cancer from spreading, and shrink cancerous tumors before or after surgery. Some patients with cancer receive chemotherapy as a standalone treatment, while others receive chemotherapy in combination with treatments such as surgery and radiation. Depending on the type of chemotherapy prescribed, patients can receive this medication via infusion, injection, or in pill form.
Because chemotherapy drugs travel throughout a patient’s body and attack fast-growing cells, they can also damage non-cancerous cells that grow quickly, such as hair follicles. This is why many patients who undergo chemotherapy experience hair loss. Patients may also have fatigue after treatment.
Immunotherapy is another type of cancer treatment that can be given as an infusion. Immunotherapy drugs enhance the patient’s immune system so that it is better able to fight cancer. For example, some patients with cancer receive infused treatments of monoclonal antibodies, proteins that bind to cancer cells and encourage the immune system to attack those malignant cells. Immune system modulators are another type of immunotherapy. These treatments change the way the immune system responds to cancer cells, such as boosting certain kinds of white blood cells.
According to the American Cancer Society, immunotherapy treatments typically have fewer side effects than chemotherapy. However, some patients who receive immunotherapy experience fever, chills, nausea, headaches, and other symptoms.
When infusion therapy is used to administer chemotherapy or other medications, it can provide several benefits, including:
Because of these benefits, an oncologist often prescribes infusion therapy, possibly along with other treatments, to patients with cancer.
Many patients prefer receiving infusion therapy at a community-based infusion center rather than at a hospital or – if it is an option — at home. At Regional Cancer Care Associates, an oncologist, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other medical personnel are on-site as infusions are administered, and other state-of-the-art cancer care resources are just steps away. Regional Cancer Care Associates’ infusion centers also provide an unrivaled level of convenience compared to a hospital because patients will not have to travel far or into crowded metropolitan areas.
The skilled clinicians at Regional Cancer Care Associates have extensive experience with infusion therapies and have developed comprehensive procedures and protocols specific to each drug. This allows them to:
Regional Cancer Care Associates works with patients’ referring physicians to coordinate care. Most insurance plans are accepted at Regional Cancer Care Associates, and trained financial advisors meet with patients and caregivers to discuss the cost of treatment, review insurance coverage, and refer patients to financial assistance organizations, if needed.
Each patient at Regional Cancer Care Associates receives a personalized treatment plan. The frequency and duration of a patient’s infusion appointments will depend on the type and stage of cancer or other condition they have. During their treatments, each patient can relax in a comfortable chair while monitored by medical personnel. Some patients like to bring something to read or headphones to listen to music while they receive their infusion, while others take a nap.
Chemotherapy sessions vary in length – some are just half an hour, while others can be three or four hours long. Patients may have one or more treatment cycles of chemotherapy, with time off in between to let their body rest and recover.
If you or a loved one requires infusion therapy for a specific type of cancer, our team of experts is standing by to help. Throughout Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey, Regional Cancer Care Associates has 25 cancer centers, each offering infusion therapy and other cancer treatment options. To learn more about our infusion centers and the full scope of treatment options, don’t hesitate to contact Regional Cancer Care Associates.
Regional Cancer Care Associates boasts a team of highly trained oncologists who are dedicated to providing best-in-class cancer care. Physicians at Regional Cancer Care Associates who specialize in infusion treatment for cancer include:
Regional Cancer Care Associates’ physicians are supported by nurse practitioners, pharmacists, patient navigators, and other administrative and medical staff.
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Regional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.