Chemotherapy

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• What is chemotherapy?
• How does chemotherapy work?
• What does chemotherapy do?
• How is chemotherapy used?
• How does my doctor decide which chemotherapy drugs to use?
• Where do I go for chemotherapy?
• How often will I receive chemotherapy?
• Can I miss a dose of chemotherapy?
• How is chemotherapy given?
• How will I feel during chemotherapy?
• Can I work during chemotherapy?
• Can I take over-the-counter and prescription drugs while I get chemotherapy?
• How will I know if my chemotherapy is working?
• How much does chemotherapy cost?
• What are clinical trials and are they an option for me?
• How can I cope with my feelings during chemotherapy?
• Patient Discussions: Chemotherapy - Coping With Side Effects
• Find a local Oncologist in your town

Featured patient discussions on chemotherapy "I was diagnosed with HER-2 breast cancer and received Taxotere (then Abraxane when I had a reaction to the Taxotere). I also had carboplatin and Herceptin. I had six rounds of chemo and a year of Herceptin. I had many side effects from the chemo, including loss of hair, mouth sores, loss of taste, loose teeth, blurry vision, and peripheral neuropathy in my feet. I finished chemo six months ago and feel fine except for a little bit of blurry vision and continued peripheral neuropathy in my feet. Chemo was rough, but it was a small price to pay for my health. I am blessed to be cancer-free today!" Read all chemotherapy comments » Top Searched Chemotherapy Terms: side effects, cancer, drugs, radiation therapy Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment. See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is over.

What does chemotherapy do?

Depending on your type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can:

• Cure cancer - when chemotherapy destroys cancer cells to the point that your doctor can no longer detect them in your body and they will not grow back.



• Control cancer - when chemotherapy keeps cancer from spreading, slows its growth, or destroys cancer cells that have spread to other parts of your body.



• Ease cancer symptoms (also called palliative care) - when chemotherapy shrinks tumors that are causing pain or pressure.

How is chemotherapy used?

Sometimes, chemotherapy is used as the only cancer treatment. But more often, you will get chemotherapy along with surgery, radiation therapy, or biological therapy. Chemotherapy can:

• Make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.



• Destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.



• Help radiation therapy and biological therapy work better.



• Destroy cancer cells that have come back (recurrent cancer) or spread to other parts of your body (metastatic cancer).

Chemotherapy - Coping With Side Effects

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

What chemotherapy side effects have you experienced? How do you cope with the side effects?

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