Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the administration of medication, sometimes orally, but more commonly by injection into a vein or muscle, to fight cancer. This treatment reaches every organ through the bloodstream. Many types of chemotherapy drugs are available, and one or more may be used to treat your cancer.

Chemotherapy is used to:

• shrink a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy
• help destroy any cancer cells that may remain after surgery or radiation therapy
• make radiation therapy or biological therapy more effective
• help destroy cancer if it recurs or spreads to other parts of the body

Receiving chemotherapy

If you receive chemotherapy by injection over a period of time, a nurse often will use a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) inserted into a large vein in your chest. This saves sticking you repeatedly, and reduces the risk that some of these powerful substances will leak out of the vein and destroy surrounding tissues.

Chemotherapy usually is given in cycles in an outpatient setting, a doctor’s office or at home. If you are fragile to begin with, or take potent drugs with side effects that need special attention, you may be admitted to the hospital for a few days.

Side effects

Chemotherapy has proven successful in fighting cancer for many patients. However, treatment can produce a wide range of side effects, including mouth sores, hair loss and fatigue. More than 40 types of chemotherapy drugs are available, and one or more may be used to treat your cancer.

Side effects of chemotherapy treatment may include:

• constipation
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• hair loss
• mouth sores, dryness
• nausea
• risk of infection