Intravenous Chemotherapy: — What the Drip Involves
The IV drip is the most common way to give chemotherapy. The medicine enters a vein slowly while you sit in a day-care unit — you go home the same day. How long it takes depends on what your oncologist has prescribed.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Day care, not a hospital stay — Most IV chemotherapy is given in a reclining chair and you go home the same day.
- Duration varies widely — Sessions range from around 20 minutes to several hours, depending on the medicines.
- You can do things during it — Read, watch something, eat, or sleep — the drip runs while you are comfortable.
- A nurse is with you throughout — Trained nurses check on you and can slow, pause or stop the drip if needed.
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IV chemotherapy enters a vein through a cannula or port, delivered as a drip in a day-care unit. Sessions range from around 20 minutes to several hours, depending on the medicines your oncologist has prescribed. Most people read, sleep or watch something during the session. You go home the same day.
What do words like cannula, PICC and port mean?
- Cannula
- A short plastic tube a nurse inserts into a vein in your hand or arm. It feels like a blood test going in. Once placed, you should not feel it.
- PICC line
- A longer tube placed into a larger vein, usually in the upper arm. Used when many cycles are planned or when veins in the hand are difficult to access.
- Port-a-cath
- A small device placed just under the skin of the chest and accessed with a needle each session. Avoids a new cannula each time and is removed at the end of treatment.
- Pre-medication
- Medicines given through the drip before chemotherapy starts — usually to reduce nausea or the risk of an allergic reaction.
- Infusion pump
- A machine that controls exactly how fast the chemotherapy runs. The nurse sets the rate; it is not adjusted by anyone else.
What happens on the day of my IV chemotherapy session?
Blood check and pharmacy
Your weight is recorded and your blood test results are reviewed. Your chemotherapy is prepared only after results confirm it is safe to proceed that day.
IV access
A nurse inserts a cannula into your hand or arm, or connects to your PICC line or port if you have one.
Pre-medications
Anti-nausea medicines, and sometimes fluids or steroids, run through the line before chemotherapy starts. Settle in comfortably — this part takes time.
Chemotherapy infusion
The chemotherapy runs at a rate set by the nurse or controlled by an infusion pump. Sessions range from around 20 minutes to several hours.
Flush and final check
The line is flushed with saline at the end. The cannula is removed if it is not staying in, and a nurse checks how you feel before you leave.
Going home
You leave the same day. You may be given oral medicines to take at home between cycles — the nurse explains what each one is for.
How long does the drip take, and what can you do during it?
Sessions range from around 20 minutes to several hours. The duration depends on the medicines prescribed — not on how advanced your cancer is or how your last cycle went.
The day-care unit has reclining chairs. Most people bring headphones and something to watch or listen to, or a book. Light food from home is generally fine. A family member can usually sit with you — ask the centre when you book.
The IV pole is on wheels, so getting up for the toilet is straightforward. Your nurse can help if you are unsure how to manage the line while walking.
Where to find us
Our centres in and around Hyderabad
Addressed by landmark, because that is how this city navigates. Each centre also names the areas it serves, so you can place it without a map. Consultation and day-care Chemotherapy run at every one of them.
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Does the drip hurt?
The cannula insertion feels like a blood test — a brief sharp sensation, then pressure. Once it is in place, you should not feel it.
Tell your nurse immediately if you feel burning, stinging or swelling at the cannula site while the drip is running. This can mean the line has shifted out of the vein and needs to be checked and resited quickly.
Some people notice a cool sensation in the arm as fluids run. A warm blanket helps, and nurses are used to the request.
What worries do people have about their first chemotherapy drip?
My veins are hard to find. What if the cannula won't go in?
Tell your nurse before they try. Oncology nurses place cannulas in difficult veins every day and have techniques that help — warming the arm, adjusting positioning, using a smaller gauge. If your veins are consistently difficult across cycles, your oncologist may suggest a PICC line or port so each session does not depend on finding a usable vein. Raising this early is entirely reasonable.
Will I feel the chemotherapy going in?
Most people feel nothing beyond a cool sensation as fluids run. A small number notice mild flushing, a metallic taste, or a faint warmth in the arm with certain medicines. These are not dangerous in themselves, but tell your nurse so they can note it and watch how it develops. Do not try to adjust the drip rate yourself if you feel something unusual — that is the nurse's role.
What if I feel unwell during the infusion?
Tell your nurse immediately — do not wait until the session ends. The infusion can be slowed, paused or stopped as needed. Day-care units are staffed and equipped for reactions, including allergic responses. Feeling unwell during the drip is not a common experience, but it is exactly what the nursing team is there to manage promptly. No symptom is too small to mention.
Can I eat, drink and use the toilet during the session?
Yes, in most cases. Light food and fluids are generally fine during a standard IV chemotherapy infusion unless your team has told you otherwise. The IV pole is on wheels, so walking to the toilet is straightforward and you do not disconnect from the drip. Ask your nurse when you arrive if your specific regimen has any restrictions — they will know.
Will I be safe to drive home after the drip?
Arrange a lift for your first session. Some pre-medications, including certain anti-nausea medicines, can cause drowsiness that makes driving unsafe. After several cycles, once you know how your body responds, you and your team can decide together whether driving home is appropriate. On sessions where steroids are part of the regimen, you may feel alert during the infusion but noticeably tired several hours later.
Did you know?
The rate at which your chemotherapy drip runs is a clinical decision, not a scheduling one. ASCO and ONS safety standards specify infusion rates for chemotherapy medicines because running them too quickly increases the risk of reactions and side effects.
Your nurse sets that rate precisely. The infusion pump enforces it.
Source: ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards
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Frequently asked questions
Why does one person's session take much longer than another's?
Duration depends entirely on which medicines are in your regimen, how many there are, and whether pre-medications or post-chemotherapy fluids are required. Some medicines must run slowly because running them faster increases the risk of a reaction. Ask your nurse how long your specific session is expected to take so you can plan your day.
What should I bring on the day?
Headphones and something to watch or listen to, a book, light food and a water bottle, and a warm layer — day-care units can be cool. Wear loose clothing with easy sleeve access. If you have a port, your nurse will access it through an opening in your clothing at the chest. There is no need to fast before most IV sessions, but check with your team the day before.
What happens if my blood test results are not good enough to proceed?
Your chemotherapy will be delayed, usually by a week, and the test repeated. This is a safety decision. Low blood counts are a common reason for a short delay, and giving chemotherapy when counts are too low increases the risk of serious infection. A brief delay is sometimes the right clinical choice, not a sign that treatment is not working.
Is a PICC line or port better than a new cannula each session?
It depends on how many cycles you have ahead and the state of your veins. A PICC or port avoids a new cannula each time, which matters a great deal over many cycles or when hand veins are already difficult. Both require a small procedure to place. Your oncologist will recommend one if it suits your plan, and it is reasonable to ask whether it is an option.
Will I be harmful to my family after the drip?
No. IV chemotherapy is not radiation and does not make you radioactive. Some medicines are excreted in body fluids for a period after each session, and your nurse will tell you if any precautions apply — such as flushing the toilet twice or a short period of extra hygiene. Normal contact with family, including children, is fine for most regimens. Ask your nurse for the correct guidance for your specific medicines.
Is IV chemotherapy given at CION?
Yes. IV chemotherapy is administered as day care at CION centres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. You come in, receive your treatment, and go home the same day for most regimens. If your specific protocol requires an overnight stay, your oncologist will explain this in advance so you can prepare.
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