Chemotherapy to Treat Cancer

Overview

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses special drugs to stop cancer cells from growing and spreading. It was first created around the 1940s and has become an important tool in treating cancer.

Chemotherapy can help treat cancer in several ways:

• Decreasing the number of cancer cells: Chemotherapy drugs attack and kill cancer cells that grow quickly. This helps lower the number of cancer cells and can slow down or stop the growth of tumors.
• Reducing the chances of cancer spreading or returning: Cancer cells can move to other parts of the body, which is known as metastasis. Chemotherapy can help stop the cancer from spreading or coming back after treatment.
• Shrinking tumors: Sometimes chemotherapy is used to shrink tumors before surgery or radiation therapy (which uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing). This can help make these treatments more effective and improve the chances of success.
• Reducing symptoms: Chemotherapy can also help relieve symptoms caused by cancer, such as pain or discomfort, by killing cancer cells. This can help make a person more comfortable during their cancer journey.
• Parallel treatment: Chemotherapy is often used in along with other treatments like surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy (which slows down or stops cancer growth by changing the levels of certain hormones in the body).

The choice of using chemotherapy as a treatment depends on factors such as the stage and type of cancer, a person’s overall health, past treatments, and personal preferences. It's considered a systemic treatment because it affects the entire body.

It's important to note that while chemotherapy works well to fight cancer cells, it can also harm healthy cells. This is why common side effects like hair loss and nausea happen. However, the benefits of chemotherapy are often greater than the side effects when treating cancer.

How Medication Works

Here's how chemotherapy works:

• Targets fast-growing cells: Chemotherapy attacks cells that grow and divide quickly, like cancer cells.
• Interrupts cell cycle: It stops cancer cells from growing and spreading by disrupting their life cycle.
• Affects healthy cells: Chemotherapy doesn’t distinguish between cancer and healthy fast-growing cells, impacting areas like hair and the digestive system.
• Causes side effects: Damage to healthy cells often leads to side effects, such as hair loss and nausea.
• Carefully planned treatment: Doctors design chemotherapy to target cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy cells, helping to reduce side effects.

To understand how chemotherapy might work for you and explore ways to personalize treatment, speak with your doctor about options that best fit your needs and minimize side effects.

How to Use Medication

Here are some important points to know about using or taking chemotherapy:

• Chemotherapy drugs can be given in several ways:
  • Through an intravenous (IV) drip
  • Pills taken by mouth
  • Injections into the body
  • Applied as a cream on the skin
  • Directly into an organ, like the bladder
  • Through the spinal canal (called intrathecal chemotherapy) to target cancer in the brain or spinal cord
• There are over 150 chemotherapy drugs available that can be used to treat different types of cancers. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of chemotherapy drugs based on your specific condition.
• Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles, with rest periods in between treatments.
• Chemotherapy can cause different side effects, which vary from person to person. The type and severity of side effects depend on factors like:
  • The type of chemotherapy drug
  • The dosage
  • How long the treatment lasts
  • Other individual factors
• Some common side effects of chemotherapy include:
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Hair loss
  • Fatigue
  • Mouth sores
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Increased risk of infections
  • Easy bleeding and bruising
• Less common side effects of chemotherapy can happen and depend on the specific drugs used. These may include:
• Nerve damage
• Allergic reactions
• Skin rashes
• Chest tightness
• Back pain
• Feeling lightheaded
• Losing weight without trying
• Damage to organs like the heart, lungs, or kidneys

It's important to remember that not everyone will experience every side effect. Also, after all your chemotherapy treatments are finished, the healthy cells that were damaged will usually heal, and the side effects like hair loss or nausea, will slowly go away.

To make sure your treatment is easy to handle and safe, it's important to take certain steps during and after chemotherapy:

• After chemotherapy, other people should avoid direct contact with your bodily fluids, like urine, sweat, or vomit, because they might still contain traces of the chemotherapy drugs.
• Prevent infections by practicing good hygiene and following your doctor's advice.
• Avoid smoking or use of any tobacco products.
• Eat a healthy diet. This means eating a good balance of foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins to help keep your body strong during treatment.
• Stay physically active as much as possible.
• Use support services like counseling and support groups.

Always talk with your doctor before trying any home remedies or over-the-counter medications for side effects. They can give you advice that’s right for your situation.

Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Other side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for additional side effect information.