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Getting Chemo Infusions or Injections
Many types of chemotherapy (chemo) are given as an infusion or injection. The most common way is through a thin tube (catheter) placed in a vein. Chemo can also be delivered into an artery, body cavity, or body part through a catheter, or injected quickly through the skin using a needle and syringe.
What is intravenous (IV) chemo?
Intravenous (IV) chemo is put right into your bloodstream. Often, this is done through a tiny, soft, plastic tube called an IV catheter. A needle is used to put the catheter into a vein in your forearm or hand. Then the needle is taken out, leaving the catheter behind.
Once the IV is in place, chemo and other medicines can be given in several ways, depending on the type:
- IV push: The medicines can be given quickly through the catheter right from a syringe over a few minutes.
- IV infusion: A typical infusion can last from a few minutes to a few hours. A mixed solution containing the chemo flows from a plastic bag through tubing that’s attached to the catheter. The flow is usually controlled by a machine called an IV pump.
- Continuous infusion: These infusions can last anywhere from 1 to several days and are controlled by electronic IV pumps.
Will I need a port?
Some people may get a new IV catheter placed in their hand or arm for each chemo infusion. But over time, this can damage your veins. It can become harder to find a good vein after many treatments and blood draws for tests.
If you will need chemo for an extended period of time, your cancer care team might suggest placing a port, also called a central venous catheter or CVC. A CVC is a bigger catheter that’s put into a large vein in the chest or arm. It stays in as long as you’re getting treatment so you won’t need to be stuck with a needle each time you need treatment or tests.
Usually, placing a port is done with a minor surgical procedure, in a clinic, hospital room, or operating room.
Once your port is in place, you:
- Can get all your treatments through the port
- Will not be stuck multiple times for IVs
- Can have most blood tests drawn through it
- Can get other treatments and medicines you might need through it, such as fluids, blood transfusions, or antibiotics
Many people talk about CVC options with their doctor before their first chemo treatment. Your health care team can help you decide if you need a CVC and what type is right for you. Even if you don’t get a port before starting treatment, you can choose to get one later if it becomes harder to find a usable vein for infusions, injections, or blood draws.
Learn more about the different types of ports and CVCs.
Where will I get chemo?
Where you get your chemo depends on:
- The type of chemo and its dosage
- Hospital policies
- Insurance coverage
- Your preferences
- Your doctor’s recommendation
You may get chemo:
- At home
- In your doctor’s office
- In a clinic
- In a hospital’s outpatient infusion center
- In a hospital
Some places have private treatment rooms, while others treat many patients together in one large room. Ask your doctor or nurse about this ahead of time so you know what to expect on your first day.
How should I prepare for chemo?
Your cancer care team will give you detailed instructions about what to do before your infusion day. Depending on the type of cancer you have, the type of chemo you will receive, and the possible side effects, they might suggest that you:
- Start certain medicines or supplements
- Get ice boots and mittens or compression socks and gloves to wear during your infusion to limit the effects of chemo in your hands and feet
- Consider whether you want to use a cold cap to help prevent hair loss
You can prepare in other ways, too:
- Make sure you have a ride to and from treatment. If you don’t have a friend or caregiver to go with you, call the American Cancer Society. Road To Recovery can match you with a volunteer in your area.
- Plan what you’ll wear. Chemo infusions can last several hours or most of the day. Wearing something comfortable can help.
- If you’re cold-natured, have a blanket ready to bring with you. Infusion rooms are often chilly.
- If you’re likely to lose your hair, think about what you’d like to do. Some people choose to cut their hair short before starting chemo. Some prepare by being fitted for a wig or finding a scarf or hat to wear.
Ask your care team what to expect in the days after your infusion, too. It can help to be prepared with things like easy meals, any medicines they recommend for side effects, and a few comfort items at home. You might want to keep your schedule light for the first few days after treatment, in case you feel tired or need time to rest. Planning ahead can make a big difference in helping you feel more comfortable and in control.
What will chemo infusions be like?
Here’s what to expect on the day of your chemo infusion.
Before the infusion
Before your chemo starts, there are a few steps to make sure you're ready and it's safe to move forward with treatment.
- A nurse will access your port or start an IV in your hand or arm. (This is often done at the same time as a blood draw.)
- Your vital signs, height, weight, and blood counts will be checked to make sure it’s safe to get chemo.
- You might also see your doctor or nurse practitioner (NP)/physician assistant or associate (PA) for a physical exam.
Getting the infusion
You will be seated in the infusion room in a chair, usually a comfortable recliner made specially for chemo treatments. To get the chemo infusion, your IV or port will be connected to a tube or line.
Depending on the specific chemo you are getting, you may be given other IV medicines first. These are called “pre-meds” and may include:
- Steroids
- Allergy medicines
- Anti-nausea medicines
You also may be given IV fluids ahead of time to make sure you are well hydrated.
Once the pre-meds and fluids are complete, your chemo will be started. Some pre-meds can make you feel sleepy, but you should not feel anything from the chemo medication while it is infusing. Your nurse will check on you throughout the infusion to make sure you are tolerating it well and not having any reaction to it. They will check your IV site and may repeat your vital signs.
While the chemo is infusing, you can watch TV, read a book, or talk with the person who came with you.
How long an infusion lasts will depend on many factors. Some chemo treatments take minutes or hours. Others are given over several days or weeks. This is called continuous infusion chemo. You do not need to stay at the hospital or clinic for continuous infusion. Instead, chemo is delivered through a small pump you wear or carry.
After the infusion
When your infusion is done, the nurse will:
- Flush your IV line and remove it (or disconnect it from your port or CVC)
- Check on how you are feeling and may repeat your vital signs
- Give you instructions to follow once you return home
- Make sure you have any prescriptions (like anti-nausea meds) you may need
- Set up appointments for blood work and other follow-ups
- Tell you who to contact if you have any problems after the infusion
Other ways chemo is given
Chemotherapy can also be given in other ways, depending on the type of cancer and where it is in the body. Sometimes it’s given into the spinal fluid, arteries, body cavities, or as a shot. In some cases, these methods help target the cancer more directly and may cause fewer side effects.
Intrathecal or IT chemotherapy is chemo that’s given directly into the fluid around your brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF). It may be used for cancers that affect the brain because many chemo drugs given by IV or by mouth cannot cross the blood-brain barrier to reach this area.
IT chemo can be given in two ways:
- Spinal injection: A needle is inserted into your lower back to deliver the chemo into the spinal canal.
- Ommaya reservoir: A small device is placed under the scalp during surgery, with a tube that goes into a fluid-filled space in the brain. It stays in place until no more treatments are needed.
IT chemo is usually given in a doctor’s office, clinic, hospital’s outpatient infusion center or radiology department, or in the hospital.
Here’s what to expect:
- Your vital signs, height, weight, and blood counts will be checked to make sure it’s safe to get chemo.
- If needed, a port or IV may be used to give fluids or medications to help prevent side effects.
- You’ll be positioned on a bed, table, or in a chair for the procedure.
- The doctor, NP, or PA will clean your skin and give the chemo.
After the chemo:
- If the chemo was given through a needle into the spinal area, you may be asked to lie flat on the table for a while afterward.
- Your vital signs will be checked again.
- Before going home, you’ll get instructions for home care and any prescriptions you might need.
Intra-arterial (IA) chemotherapy is chemo that’s put directly into the main artery that supplies blood to the tumor. This allows a high dose of chemo to go straight to the tumor, while limiting side effects in the rest of the body. It might be used to treat:
- A single organ, such as the liver
- A limb, such as an arm or leg
- The eye (usually in children)
IA chemo is usually done in a hospital’s radiology department or an operating room.
What to expect:
- Your skin will be cleaned and prepped.
- The doctor will make a small cut and insert a catheter (thin tube) through your skin and into an artery near the tumor.
- The chemo is given through the catheter. Sometimes a pump is attached to deliver chemo continuously over a period of time.
After the chemo:
- Once the chemo is done, the catheter is removed and pressure will be applied to help stop any bleeding.
- You will be monitored for a while to check for bleeding, swelling, or poor circulation (such as numbness or coolness).
- The area will be covered with a bandage or dressing.
- Before going home, you’ll get instructions for home care and any prescriptions you might need.
Intracavitary chemotherapy is chemo that’s given directly into an enclosed space inside your body. This lets the chemo reach the cancer more directly and helps limit side effects elsewhere. It may be used in areas such as:
- The bladder (intravesicular or intravesical chemo)
- The abdomen or belly (intraperitoneal chemo)
- The chest (intrapleural chemo)
Intracavitary chemo is usually done in a clinic, radiology department or hospital operating room.
What to expect:
- Depending on where the cancer is, the chemo is given through a urinary catheter into the bladder, intraperitoneal catheter or port into the abdomen, or chest tube into the lung.
- The chemo stays in the body for a period of time and is then drained out.
After the chemo:
- You will be monitored for a while to check for any side effects or reactions.
- Before going home, you’ll get instructions for home care and any prescriptions you might need.
Some types of chemo are given as an injection or shot rather than through an IV. These shots go into specific layers of tissue:
- Subcutaneous (SC or SQ) chemo is injected into the fatty tissue just under the skin.
- Intramuscular (IM) chemo is injected deeper into a muscle.
Sometimes more than 1 injection is needed, depending on the amount of chemo being given.
SQ and IM chemo are usually given in a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital’s outpatient infusion center.
What to expect:
- The nurse will clean your skin before the injection.
- The needle is inserted into the correct area—just under the skin (SQ) or into the muscle (IM).
- The chemo is injected and the needle is removed.
- A bandage is applied.
- If more injections are required, this process will be repeated.
After the chemo:
- You will be monitored for any bleeding, swelling, or reaction to the chemo.
- Before going home, you’ll get instructions for home care and any prescriptions you might need.
How often and for how long will I need chemo?
How often you get chemo and how long your treatment lasts will depend on:
- The kind of cancer you have
- The goals of the treatment
- The types of chemo being used
- The way the chemo is given
- How your body responds to treatment
You may get treatments daily, weekly, or monthly, but they’re usually given in on-and-off cycles. For example, on a 3-week cycle, you might get chemo the first 2 weeks and then have a week off. The time off lets your body build healthy new cells and regain its strength. Ask your cancer care team how many cycles are planned and how long they expect your treatment to last.
How long does chemo stay in the body?
Your kidneys and liver break down most chemo medicines which then leave your body through urine or stool. How long it takes your body to get rid of the chemo depends on many things, including:
- The type of chemo
- Other medicines you take
- Your age
- How well your kidneys and liver work
Your cancer care team will tell you if you need to take any special precautions because of the chemo you are getting. To learn more, see Chemotherapy Safety.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
American Society of Clinical Oncology. What to Expect When Having Chemotherapy. Accessed at cancer.net. Content is no longer available.
Gilson S. Chemotherapy. In Maloney-Newton S, Hickey M, Brant JM, eds. Mosby’s Oncology Nursing Advisor: A Comprehensive Guide to Clinical Practice. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2024:388-408.
Olsen MM, Fritzsche D, O’Connor SL. Chemotherapy. In Olsen MM, LeFebvre KB, Walker SL, Dunphy EP, eds. Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice. 2nd ed. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society; 2023:67-100.
Smith LH. Administration Considerations. In Olsen MM, LeFebvre KB, Walker SL, Dunphy EP, eds. Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice. 2nd ed. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society; 2023:293-340.
Last Revised: May 15, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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