Can I have some information on the life (during treatment) or someone in chemotherapy?

[Nightnaiad]

I am writing a book about a little boy who has a brain tumor.

What would be a reason that a brain tumor would be inoperable and people would go straight to chemo or radiation?

I know about the treatment for brain tumors, but what is the patient's life like during chemo? Do they stay in bed the whole day? If not, then how much? Wen do they go to the hospital, and what for? How long does the chemo go on for? And what can and cannot a person in chemo do? Also, when does the hair start to fall out?

Thanks,
Calla

[T1963]

Hi. I just finished chemo in Oct. A port is put in for chemo treatment if one can be put in. I call this my "docking station". Every time I went in the nurses would literally plug the chemo needle up to this port. It is in the chest wall. I was very fortunate that I never did throw-up or lose alot of weight. Quite the contrary. I actually gained weight. For me the hardest thing was not the chemo itself. It was the Nuelasta shot that I received the day after chemo. This helped me to keep my blood count right where it should be. The feeling that this shot gives is probably like getting hit by a truck. The taste that you get after chemo in your  mouth is less than pleasant as well. Another thing that is hard, is right around the 3rd maybe 4th treatment, you start to get tired. Your body wants to do nothing. Not all of the time, but two weeks slow and then one week feeling good and having energy just to go back in on that 3rd week to do it again. Steroids are also given the day before, the day of and the day after chemo. This helps with swelling in the legs, but manages to keep you up half the night. I am not sure that any of this helped you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know. I will give you any information that I can. I was very fortunate with my chemo and I know it is not as easy for everyone. Please do not get me wrong. Chemo is not easy, on anyone, but I can tell you that there are many out there that have it much worse than I did. Please let me know what your book name is so I can read it. Good luck.

[iam1butterfly]

One reason why the Cancer would be deemed as being "inoperable" is if the Cancer is in such an advanced stage that is has metastasized (spread beyond the the site where the Cancer originated). Another reason would be if the Cancer is so close to vital nerves that surgery would inflict harm; rather than help the patient.
Chemotherapy is a treatment that knocks down and destroys fast growing cells, such as Cancer cells. The downside is that the immune system is impaired (weakened) in the process... and other fast growing cells within the body, such as hair; toenails, fingernails and blood is negatively affected. That's why Chemotherapy patients lose their hair... the hair cells were destroyed. Radiation is more defined in its application... and, like chemo, it's designed to destroy Cancer cells.
Since the immune system is weakened during therapy, the patient's body is weakened as well. And, patient's undergoing treatments require a lot of rest and should avoid situations where they could catch colds, flus and other viruses. Excessive exposure to heat should also be minimized. When patients are sent to the hospital or a medical facility for treatments, they usually go to an infusion center where the chemo is administered. Chemo is ordinarily administered by use of a needle/ drip system. The length of treatment and the type (or combination) of chemo drugs varies and usually depends upon one's stage of Cancer and the kind of Cancer that's being treated.