What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells,
either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. Depending on the type
and stage of the cancer, chemotherapy may be given as the primary treatment or as an adjuvant
(additional) treatment to surgery and/or radiation therapy. The type of drugs your doctor will
prescribe will be determined by many factors including the type and location of the cancer, its
size and/or stage, and how it will affect your normal body function and overall health.
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How does chemotherapy work?
Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells divide and grow very quickly. Chemotherapy drugs are
used to target fast growing cells throughout the body. While other treatment options like surgery
and radiation therapy can be effective in treating a particular area of the body, chemotherapy
works throughout the entire body targeting cancer cells that can invade nearby tissue and spread
throughout the body through the blood and lymph systems.
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How is chemotherapy given?
Chemotherapy drugs can be taken orally, by injection, or intravenously depending on the type
and stage of the cancer and the drug protocol your doctor has prescribed.
- Intravenous Chemotherapy - Most chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously (through an IV). This is where the medications are given directly into the patient's veins through a plastic tube called a catheter.
- Oral Chemotherapy - If the chemotherapy you are to take is in pill form, you can usually take the medication at home. It is important to follow your doctor's instructions.
- Injection - Some medications can be given to a patient as a shot into the muscle, under the skin, or directly into the cancer lesion depending on the type and location of the cancer.
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Side effects
Often it is the anticipation of side effects that worries patients. Although you may not
experience side effects it is still worthwhile being aware of what can occur in some instances
and how you can make them less severe or less likely.
Chemotherapy treatments affect a cancer cell's ability to reproduce and grow. This means that
they have the greatest impact on rapidly reproducing cells. Unfortunately, cancer cells are not
the only cells in your body that are constantly reproducing. Blood cells, hair, skin and
fingernail cells and the cells lining your gastro-intestinal tract also fall into this category.
You should be aware of some of the side effects that can occur because if this. Your treatment team
can also help you to lessen the effects of chemotherapy with other medications, nutrition, and
complementary therapies.
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Chemoprevention
Chemoprevention is the use of medications in people who are at very high risk of getting certain
types of cancer to delay the disease or prevent it entirely.
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Using Chemotherapy prior to surgery
Very often, surgery is used prior to a patient receiving chemotherapy. Sometimes, surgery is not
possible because of the size or location of the tumor. Chemotherapy can be used prior to surgery
(neo-adjuvant treatment) to reduce the size of the tumor making the surgery possible and/or improving
the surgical outcomes.
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