COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CARE AND RESEARCH IN ONCOLOGICAL THERAPY

Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of anticancer drugs that can be given intravenously (injected into your vein) or taken by mouth.

 

The drugs pass through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells in most parts of the body.

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How does cancer chemotherapy work?

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Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide rapidly.

 

Chemotherapy is used to:

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• cancer treatment
  Chemotherapy may be used to cure cancer, to lower the chances that the cancer will come back, or to stop or slow its growth.

• Cancer symptom relief
  Chemotherapy can be used to shrink tumors that cause pain and other problems.

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who is given chemotherapy

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Chemotherapy is used to treat many types of cancer. For some people, chemotherapy may be the only treatment they receive. But more often, you will receive chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. The types of treatment you need will depend on the type of cancer you have, whether it has spread and where, and whether you have other health problems.

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How is chemotherapy used with other cancer treatments?

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When used with other treatments, chemotherapy can:

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• Shrink the size of a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

• Destroy cancer cells that may be left behind after treatment with surgery or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.

• Help other treatments to work better.

• Destroy cancer cells that have come back or have spread to other parts of the body.

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Can chemotherapy cause side effects?

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Chemotherapy not only kills fast-growing cancer cells, but also kills or slows the growth of fast-growing and dividing healthy cells. An example of this are the cells that line your mouth e bowels and the ones that make your hair grow. Damage to healthy cells can cause side effects, such as mouth sores, nausea, and hair loss. Side effects often get better or go away after you finish chemotherapy.

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The most common side effect is fatigue, which is feeling tired and exhausted. You can prepare for fatigue by:

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• Ask someone to take you to chemotherapy and bring you back.

• Set aside time to rest on the day of chemotherapy and the day after.

• Ask for help with meals and child care on the day of chemotherapy and for at least one day after.

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There are many ways you can manage the side effects of chemotherapy. For more information, see the section about side effects.

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How much does chemotherapy cost?

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The cost of chemotherapy depends on:

 

• The types y dose that are used for chemotherapy

• How long and how often chemotherapy is given

• If you receive chemotherapy at home, in a clinic or office, or during a hospital stay

• The part of the country where you live

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Talk to your health insurance company about the services they will pay for. Most insurance plans pay for chemotherapy. To find out more, talk to the administrative office where you receive treatment.