Understanding chemotherapy - Macmillan Cancer

How chemotherapy is givenChemotherapy into a veinChemotherapy given into a vein (intravenous) goes directlyinto your blood and is carried to all areas of your body.It can be given through:• a cannula – a short thin tube put into a vein in your armor the back of your hand (see page 26)• a central line put in through the skin of your chest or neckinto a vein in the chest (see pages 27–28)• a PICC (peripherally inserted central venouscatheter) line put into a vein in the arm and threadedthrough to a vein in the chest (see pages 29–30)• an implantable port (portacath) put into a vein andhas an opening (port) under the skin on your chest or arm(see pages 30–31).When your cannula, line or port is in place the chemotherapydrugs can be given into it by injection, as a drip on its ownor through a pump. There’s more information about this onpages 36–37.Your nurse will check that the cannula, line or port is workingproperly before giving you the chemotherapy.25