Chemotherapy is a group of medicines used to treat cancer.
While surgery and radiation therapy target specific areas of cancer, chemotherapy works throughout the body and can destroy cancer cells that have spread (metastasized) from the original tumor site.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells. Some cancer cells grow slowly; others, grow rapidly. As a result, different types of chemotherapy drugs are designed to target the growth patterns of specific types of cancer cells. Each drug has a different way of working and is effective at a specific time in the life cycle of the targeted cells. Your doctor will develop a treatment plan specifically for you, based on your type of cancer, its stage of advancement, and your overall health.
Depending on your individual condition, your chemotherapy may be designed to achieve one or more of the three goals: remission, controlling and/or relieving symptoms.
How is chemotherapy administered?
Your doctor will choose the method that will be most effective against your particular type of cancer and cause the fewest side effects. You may receive chemotherapy drugs in one or more of the following ways:
- Shot (injections)
- IV (intravenous or dripping medicine through a tube into the vein)
- Pill (oral medication)
Frequency of chemotherapy
How often you take chemotherapy depends on the type of cancer and which drug or combination of drugs you receive. Different drugs work at varying times in the cancer cell growth process. Your physicians will take all of these factors into consideration as they develop your treatment schedule. Chemotherapy is usually structured in cycles with rest periods between, and generally, treatments are given daily, weekly or monthly.
Possible side effects
Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells. Unfortunately, it can’t necessarily tell the difference between a cancer cell and a healthy cell; therefore, it can cause side effects. Among the most common are nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, and low blood counts. Some side effects may be temporary and merely annoying. Others, however, can be life-threatening. Be sure to tell you doctor of any side effects you experience. In most cases, your doctor can help you successfully manage side effects throughout your treatment cycles.
How do I know my chemotherapy is working?
Each person responds differently to treatment. Your doctor will closely monitor and measure your progress. Because some people experience side effects associated with their treatment and others have none, the presence or absence of side effects is not a reliable means of measuring the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
Questions to ask about chemotherapy:
- Why is chemotherapy the best option for me?
- What specific type of chemotherapy are you recommending?
- What is the goal of this treatment?
- Can chemotherapy ease my symptoms?
- What side effects might I expect, and what can I do to manage them?
- How often will I receive chemotherapy and how long will my chemotherapy treatments last?
- What restrictions (dietary, working, exercising) will I have during my treatment?
- When will I be able to return to my normal activities?
- What experiences have other patients had with similar chemotherapy regimens?