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Chemotherapy Center - Visalia, CA

Visalia Oncologist Doctors for Chemotherapy

Type of Physician: Oncologist

What is a Oncologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; the oncologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer and other benign and malignant tumors. These subspecialists decide on and administer chemotherapy as well as consult with surgeons and radiotherapists on other treatment for cancer.

Specialty: Oncology (Medical)

Common Name: Cancer Doctor

Oncologist Doctors in Visalia *

Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center
Richard Ng
6501 Truxtun Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93309
(661) 322-2206

Visalia, California

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Chemotherapy

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).

How does my doctor decide which chemotherapy drugs to use?

T...

Recommended Reading Related to Chemotherapy

Neuroblastoma »

What is neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in nerve tissue of the adrenal gland, neck, chest, or spinal cord.

Neuroblastoma often begins in the nerve tissue of the adrenal glands. There are two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney in the back of the upper abdomen. The adrenal glands produce important hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and the way the body reacts to stress. Neuroblastoma may also begin in the chest, in nerve tissue near the spine in the neck, or in the spinal cord.

Neuroblastoma most often begins during early childhood, usually in children younger than 5 years. It sometimes forms before birth but is usually found later, when the tumor begins to grow and cause symptoms. In rare cases, neuroblastoma may be found before birth by fetal ultrasound.

By the time neuroblastoma is diagnosed, the cancer has usually metastasized (spread), mos...

Emergency Contact for Visalia

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Visalia Hospitals *

Kaweah Delta Medical Center Health District
400 W Mineral King Ave
Visalia, CA 93291
(559)624-2000

Kaweah Delta Rehabilitation Hospital
840 S Akers St
Visalia, CA 93277
(559)624-3700

Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital
1100 S Akers St
Visalia, CA 93277
(559)624-3300

Tulare Regional Medical Center
869 N Cherry St
Tulare, CA 93274
(559)688-0821

Kingsburg Medical Center
1200 Smith St
Kingsburg, CA 93631
(559)897-5841

Central Valley General Hospital
1025 N Douty St
Hanford, CA 93230
(559)583-2100

Hanford Community Medical Center
450 N Greenfield Ave
Hanford, CA 93230
(559)582-9000

Sierra Kings District Hospital
372 W Cypress Ave
Reedley, CA 93654
(559)638-8155

Corcoran District Hospital
1310 Hanna Ave
Corcoran, CA 93212
(559)992-5051

Selma Community Hospital
1141 Rose Ave
Selma, CA 93662
(559)891-1000

Sierra View District Hospital
465 W Putnam Ave
Porterville, CA 93257
(559)784-1110

Porterville Developmental Center
26501 Ave 140
Porterville, CA 93258
(559)782-2222

Naval Hospital Lemoore
937 Franklin Ave
Lemoore, CA 93246
(559)998-4481

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