Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, or the use of chemical substances to treat a disease, is another form of standard treatment for most cancers. Chemotherapy works by either preventing fast-growing cells, like cancer cells, from dividing out of control or by causing these cells to die. Chemotherapy can be very effective for many patients and works well for many different types of cancer.

Chemotherapy may be a single drug or a combination of several drugs used to treat cancer. Usually, chemotherapy ChemotherapyType of cancer treatment that prevents fast-growing cells (like cancer cells) from dividing or causes cancer cells to die. May also damage fast-growing normal cells.Closeis administered into a vein using an intravenous (IV) drip, but it can also be given in the form of a pill, or as an injection. It may be given in the hospital or clinic, at a doctor’s office, or at home. Patients may receive chemotherapy many times with the same or different chemotherapeutic agents. Each agent may have different dosing schedules from every day to once a week, or even once a month for several months depending on the type of treatment.

As your doctor may have told you, chemotherapy causes a number of side effects. This is because chemotherapy works on all fast-growing cells and does not specifically target cancer cells. This results in damage to other fast-growing cells that are not cancerous, including hair cells, blood cells, and cells in the stomach or mouth. When these cells are damaged, they can cause side effects such as hair loss, lowered blood cell CellSmallest unit of all living organisms. Closecounts, fatigue (tiredness), increased risk of infection, nausea/vomiting, and painful mouth sores.

Chemotherapy works on all fast-growing cells and does not specifically target cancer cells.

While many patients respond to chemotherapy, there are patients whose cancer may come back following treatment. For these patients, other types of treatment may be recommended instead of, or in addition to, chemotherapy. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the side effects you should expect, as well as the possibility of any long-term effects from your therapy.