Chemotherapy is a therapy used for treatments that use chemical agents i.e. drugs to kill cancer cells. Many different kinds of drugs are used, either alone or in combination, to treat different cancers. The specific drug or combination used is chosen to best combat the type and extent of cancer present.
Why are chemotherapy drugs given?
Chemotherapy drugs are given for several reasons:
How does chemotherapy works? Each chemotherapy drug works in a different way to prevent cells from growing. Often a combination of drugs will be used, with each drug attacking the cancer cells in a different way. This decreases the possibility that cancer cells will survive, become resistant and continue to grow. Chemotherapy drugs work by interfering with the ability of cancer cells to divide and reproduce themselves. Chemotherapy can be delivered by the bloodstream to reach cancer cells all over the body, or it can be administered directly to specific cancer sites. Chemotherapy drugs prevent the copying of cellular components needed to divide. Chemotherapy drugs replace or eliminate essential enzymes or nutrients the cells needed to survive.
How are chemotherapy drugs given? Intravenously (IV), Intrathecally, Intramuscular (IM), Intraperitoneal (IP), Intracavitary (IC), Subcutaneous, Oral (PO) are the different routes for the chemotherapy.
Side effects of chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells, including normal ones. When normal cells are damaged, it can cause side effects. But normal cells can repair the damage or be replaced by other healthy cells, which is why side effects are usually temporary. Despite monitoring the effects of chemotherapy very closely, some long-term effects can occur, sometimes years after therapy is completed. Therefore, it is important that every patient be followed throughout his or her life by a physician who is aware of the late effects of treatment. Nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, anemia, mouth sores, taste and smell changes, infection, diarrhea, menopause, infertility are the side effects of chemotherapy.