Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy - frequently referred to as chemo - is a common term for any
treatment that involves using chemical agents to stop
cancer cells from growing.
Unlike radiation or surgery, chemotherapy works as a systemic treatment, flowing throughout the bloodstream to nearly every part of the body. Chemo is a valuable treatment because it can eliminate cancer cells throughout the entire body away from the original cancer.
Most chemotherapeutic drugs are administered either in vein (IV) or in muscle (IM), although some anticancer agents can be taken orally. Chemotherapeutic drugs are usually administered in cycles, meaning a treatment period is followed by a recovery period, and then the treatment is repeated. The number of cycles depends on the type of cancer and stage of the disease, but initial treatment usually consists of 4 to 6 cycles with 21 to 28 days between treatments. Drug dosage and potency is sometimes increased with each cycle.
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Patients often have chemotherapy as an outpatient at a hospital, doctor's office or clinic, cancer center, or even at home. However, in some instances, depending on the patient's overall health and the potency of drugs, a short hospital stay may be required.
A major concern of chemotherapy for many patients is the side effects of the drugs. Side effects largely depend on the drug types and dosages that the patient receives. Some chemo drugs may produce increased side effects, whereas others cause few.
The most common side effects of chemo are nausea, vomiting, hair loss and fatigue. These side effects can typically be managed with the help of a patient's doctor or oncologist. The health professional can prescribe medication to help ease such side effects, especially nausea and vomiting. Side effects tend to gradually go away during the recovery periods between cycles.
More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer receive chemotherapy. That means, for many people, chemotherapy helps treat their cancer and allows them to enjoy healthy, productive lives.