Cancer treatments such as pills, intravenous chemo or IV antibiotics may be administered at home rather than in a hospital or healthcare facility. Subcutaneous (skin shots) injections, intramuscular (muscle shots) injections and other treatments may also be allowed by the cancer patient’s doctor.In home health care, it is very important to make sure that the prescribed medicine is strictly implemented.

Continucare Home Health Inc in San Antonio Texas explains the different treatment a cancer patient may get under home health care and helpful tips on how they can properly administer these treatments on their own. It is important to note that medication management may prove to be difficult for some patients and their family. In these cases, hiring a homehealth care team like ContinuCare may be a tremendous help and relief.

Pills

Pills must be taken exactly as how the doctor prescribed it. Patients can set an alarm to notify them to take their pills at the right time. It will also be helpful if the pill dose is placed on bedside so the patient no longer has to get up to take the medication. For those pills that are taken once a day, it may be helpful to take them just before bedtime to better manage side effects such as nausea. Double check with the doctor before deciding to crush any pill, since some drugs are dangerous once the pill is broken. It will also be good to ask effective ways to control such side effects.

Intravenous (IV) medicine

A homehealth care staff will come to the patient’s home to give intravenous drugs. They van also educate the patient and his or her family on how to do so.

Injections (under the skin or into a muscle)

Those who are administering the injection must wash their hands well with soap and water before starting. It is very important to make sure the right dosage in the syringe is given. Make sure to wipe the skin with alcohol and dry it for 30 seconds before injecting. If the needle touches anything unsterilized, just throw it away and use a new one.