Chemotherapy (“chemo”) works by destroying cancer cells in your body. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherapy may be given with a curative intent, or it may aim to prolong life or to reduce symptoms. Chemotherapy is one of the major categories of the medical discipline specifically devoted to pharmacotherapy for cancer, which is called medical oncology.
Full Answer
How long does chemotherapy take to start working?
How Chemotherapy Is Given. Oral chemotherapy comes in pills, capsules, or liquids that you swallow. Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy goes directly into a vein. Injection chemotherapy is given by a shot in a muscle in your arm, thigh, or hip, or right under the skin in …
What is the success rate of chemotherapy?
Other ways to give chemo infusions or injections Intrathecal (IT) chemo. Intrathecal or IT chemo is put into the spinal canal through a catheter, and goes into the fluid... Intra-arterial chemo. In intra-arterial treatment, the chemo drug is put right into the main artery that supplies blood... ...
How effective is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is commonly given at regular intervals called cycles. A cycle may be a dose of one or more drugs on one or more days, followed by several days or weeks without treatment. This gives normal cells time to recover from drug side effects.
How does chemotherapy kill cancer cells?
How is chemotherapy given? Injection: The drugs are delivered with a shot directly into muscle in your hip, thigh, or arm, or in the fatty part of... Intra-arterial (IA): The drugs go directly into the artery that is feeding the cancer, through a needle, or soft, thin... Intraperitoneal (IP): The ...
Where Will I Get Chemotherapy?
The place you get your treatment depends on which chemotherapy (chemo) drugs you’re getting, the drug doses, your hospital’s policies, your insuran...
How Often Will I Need Chemotherapy and How Long Will It Last?
How often you get chemo and how long your treatment lasts depend on the kind of cancer you have, the goals of the treatment, the drugs being used,...
How Will I Be Given Chemotherapy?
Most chemotherapy drugs are put right into your bloodstream through a tiny, soft, plastic tube called a catheter. A needle is used to put the cathe...
What Should I Eat Before My First Chemo Treatment?
Your chemo can take anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. Make sure you eat something before treatment. Most people find that a light meal or...
Can I Be Around My Family and Friends While I’M Getting Chemo?
Most chemo drugs make you less able to fight infection, but there are ways you can avoid them. 1. Stay away from anyone who is sick. 2. Wash your h...
How Can I Protect Myself and Those I Live With While I’M Getting Chemo?
There are many things you can do during and after chemo to keep yourself and your loved ones from being affected by the chemo drugs while your body...
How is chemo given?
Many types of chemo are given as an infusion or injection. With chemo infusions, chemotherapy drugs are put into your body through a thin tube called a catheter that's placed in a vein, artery, body cavity, or body part. In some cases, a chemo drug may be injected quickly with a syringe. Here you'll learn about the different types of injectable chemo.
How is chemo put in the bloodstream?
Intravenous or IV chemo is put right into your bloodstream through a tiny, soft, plastic tube called a catheter. A needle is used to put the catheter into a vein in your forearm or hand; then the needle is taken out, leaving the catheter behind.
Where is chemo put in the body?
With chemo infusions, chemotherapy drugs are put into your body through a thin tube called a catheter that's placed in a vein, artery, body cavity, or body part. In some cases, a chemo drug may be injected quickly with a syringe. Here you'll learn about the different types of injectable chemo.
What is the treatment for cancer?
There are also other drugs that are used to treat cancer in different ways, including targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
How long does an IV infusion last?
IV infusion: a typical infusion can last from a few minutes ...
Where is intrathecal chemo put?
Intrathecal or IT chemo is put into the spinal canal through a catheter, and goes into the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called the cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. This way of giving chemo may be needed for certain kinds of cancers that affect the brain since most chemo drugs delivered by IV or by mouth cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from many toxins.
How often do you get chemo?
You may get treatments daily, weekly, or monthly, but they’re usually given in on-and-off cycles. This means, for example, that you may get chemo the first 2 weeks and then have a week off, making it a cycle that will start over every 3 weeks. The time off lets your body build healthy new cells and regain its strength.
Can you use chemo with chemotherapy?
Cancer can be treated with a single chemo drug, but often several drugs are used together. They may be given in a certain order or in certain combinations (called combination chemotherapy). Different drugs that work in different ways can work together to kill more cancer cells.
What is chemo medicine?
But to most people, the word chemotherapy (or "chemo") means drugs used for cancer treatment. It's important to know that not all medicines and drugs to treat cancer work the same way. It used to be that the only kind of drug that could treat cancer was traditional or standard chemo, but now there are a lot of different kinds ...
Is chemotherapy the best treatment for cancer?
While traditional or standard chemotherapy is still the best way to treat many cancers, different kinds of drugs may work better for others . The information below describes traditional or standard chemotherapy. There are also other drugs that are used to treat cancer in different ways, including targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
What is the treatment for cancer?
There are also other drugs that are used to treat cancer in different ways, including targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
What is radiation therapy?
Surgery removes a tumor from a part of the body where cancer has been found, and radiation therapy is aimed at a certain area of the body to kill or damage cancer cells. Treatments like these are called local treatments because they affect one part of the body.
Does chemo cure cancer?
If possible, chemo is used to cure cancer, meaning that the cancer is destroyed – it goes away and doesn’t come back. Most doctors don’t use the word “cure” except as a possible or intended result of treatment.
Can chemo help with cancer?
In these cases, chemo is used to shrink tumors and/or stop the cancer from growing and spreading. This can help the person with cancer feel better and live longer.
How is chemotherapy given?
Chemotherapy is most often given as an infusion into a vein (intravenously). The drugs can be given by inserting a tube with a needle into a vein in your arm or into a device in a vein in your chest.
How is chemo given?
The drugs can be given by inserting a tube with a needle into a vein in your arm or into a device in a vein in your chest. Chemotherapy pills. Some chemotherapy drugs can be taken in pill or capsule form. Chemotherapy shots.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Overview. Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body. Many different chemotherapy drugs are available.
Can you use chemotherapy alone?
Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination to treat a wide variety of cancers. Though chemotherapy is an effective way to treat many types of cancer, chemotherapy treatment also carries a risk of side effects. Some chemotherapy side effects are mild and treatable, while others can cause serious complications.
Is chemotherapy good for cancer?
Though chemotherapy is an effective way to treat many types of cancer, chemotherapy treatment also carries a risk of side effects. Some chemotherapy side effects are mild and treatable, while others can cause serious complications.
What is the purpose of chemo?
Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in people with cancer. There are a variety of settings in which chemotherapy may be used in people with cancer: To cure the cancer without other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used as the primary or sole treatment for cancer. After other treatments, to kill hidden cancer cells.
Can chemotherapy be used after surgery?
Chemotherapy can be used after other treatments, such as surgery, to kill any cancer cells that might remain in the body. Doctors call this adjuvant therapy. To prepare you for other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used to shrink a tumor so that other treatments, such as radiation and surgery, are possible.
How does chemo work?
Also called “chemo,” it’s a way to treat cancerthat uses drugsto kill cancercells. How does chemotherapy work? It targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancercells do. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout your body.
How is chemotherapy delivered?
It may be delivered by a special machine that bombards parts of your body from the outside, or by putting radioactive material on, near, and even inside your body. Biological therapy:Living material in the form of bacteria, vaccines, or antibodiesare carefully introduced to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used to:
Does chemotherapy help with cancer?
Ease symptoms:In some cases, chemotherapy can’t cure or control the spread of cancer and is simply used to shrink tumors that cause painor pressure.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Sometimes, it treats cancer by itself, but more often it’s used in combination with: Surgery:A doctor removes cancerous tumors or tissue, or organs contaminated with cancerous cells. Radiation therapy: A doctor uses invisible radioactive particles to kill cancer cells.
What is chemo therapy?
Chemotherapy ("Chemo") uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Learn more about how it works, what to expect during treatment, common side effects, and other FAQs. Skip to main content . Check Your Symptoms . Find A Doctor .
Does chemo work on hair?
It targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancercells do. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout your body. But it can also affect some fast-growing healthy cells, like those of the skin, hair, intestines, and bone marrow.
What is the goal of chemo?
The goal of treatment: cure, control growth, or ease pain. The type of chemotherapy. The way your body responds to the treatment. You may have chemotherapy in “cycles,” which means a period of treatment and then a period of rest. For example, a 4-week cycle may be 1 week of treatment and then 3 weeks of rest.
How do chemo drugs work?
Chemotherapy drugs work in a few different ways. They can: 1 Kill both cancerous and healthy cells 2 Fight only cancer cells 3 Keep tumors from growing blood vessels, which help them thrive 4 Attack the cancer cells’ genes so the cells die and can’t grow into new tumors
What is chemo drug?
One type of chemo drug interferes with the normal metabolism of cells, which makes them stop growing. These drugs are called antimetabolites. Doctors often use them to treat leukemia and cancer in the breasts, ovaries, and intestines.
What is the most common treatment for cancer?
When Your Chemotherapy Changes. Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer. It uses certain drugs to kill cancer cells or to stop them from growing and spreading to other parts of your body. Your doctor might prescribe chemo by itself or with surgery or radiation therapy.
Can you take chemo if you have cancer?
It depends on the type of cancer you have and how severe it is. Your cancer doctor, called an oncologist, may prescribe one chemo drug or a mix of different ones, depending on: Your type of cancer. Whether you’ve had cancer before. If you have other health problems like diabetes or heart, kidney, or liver disease.
Does chemo shrink cancer?
These cells can grow new tumors or spread the cancer to other parts of your body. Chemotherapy drugs help destroy, shrink, or control those cells. It might also treat symptoms the cancer causes, like pain. You might also get chemo to shrink a tumor before your doctor removes it in surgery.
What are some examples of alkylating agents?
Some examples of alkylating agents are cyclophosphamide, melphalan, and temozolomide. As they kill bad cells, though, they can also destroy your bone marrow in the process, which can cause leukemia years later. To lower this risk, you can take the drugs in small doses.
What are antimetabolites used for?
These drugs are called antimetabolites. Doctors often use them to treat leukemia and cancer in the breasts, ovaries, and intestines. Drugs in this group include 5- fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, cytarabine, gemcitabine, and methotrexate, among many others.
How is chemo given?
The most common way that chemotherapy drugs are given is through a needle into a vein. This is called intravenous or IV chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can also be taken as a pill, capsule, or liquid by mouth, as an injection or shot, or as a cream that is put directly on your skin.
How to help someone with chemotherapy?
Make a caregiving plan. People receiving chemotherapy may need extra help during treatment with transportation, household chores, and other tasks. Family and friends can provide valuable support during this time, called caregiving. Ask your team what type of caregiving at home you may need during and after treatment.
What is the role of a medical oncologist?
Your medical oncologist works closely with other team members to create your overall cancer treatment plan. They also lead your chemotherapy treatments. Advanced providers, like oncology nurse practitioners (NPs) and oncology physician assistants (PAs).
How long does chemo last?
Most chemotherapy treatments are given in repeating cycles. The length of a cycle depends on the drug (s) you receive. Most cycles range from 2 to 6 weeks. The number of treatment doses scheduled within each cycle also depends on the prescribed chemotherapy.
Is chemotherapy a maintenance therapy?
Sometimes, chemotherapy treatment is ongoing as a maintenance therapy. Give permission for chemotherapy. Your doctor will talk with you about the possible risks and benefits of chemotherapy. This discussion will include potential short-term side effects and late effects of the chemotherapy.
What is the best treatment for cancer?
Relieving physical and emotional side effects is an important part of your overall cancer treatment. This type of care is called palliative care or supportive care . Talk with your health care team about the side effects you experience and ways to manage and treat them. Learn more about the side effects of chemotherapy.
Is chemotherapy expensive?
Cancer treatment can be costly. Before chemotherapy starts, talk with your team about the financial considerations of your treatment, including specific insurance coverage. You may want to contact organizations that can provide financial support.
What is chemo injected into?
Chemotherapy into an artery. An artery is a blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to another part of your body. Sometimes chemotherapy is injected into an artery that goes directly to the cancer. This is called intra-arterial or IA chemotherapy. Chemotherapy into the peritoneum or abdomen.
What is the goal of chemo?
The goals of chemotherapy. The goals of chemotherapy depend on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. Sometimes, the goal of treatment is to get rid of all the cancer and keep it from coming back. If this is not possible, you might receive chemotherapy to delay or slow cancer growth. Delaying or slowing cancer growth with chemotherapy also ...
How do doctors treat cancer?
Doctors use chemotherapy in different ways at different times. These include: 1 Before surgery or radiation therapy to shrink tumors. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 2 After surgery or radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy. 3 As the only treatment. For example, to treat cancers of the blood or lymphatic system, such as leukemia and lymphoma. 4 For cancer that comes back after treatment, called recurrent cancer. 5 For cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, called metastatic cancer.
What are the factors that determine the treatment of cancer?
The drugs, dose, and treatment schedule depend on many factors. These include: 1 The type of cancer 2 The tumor size, its location, and if or where it has spread. This is called the stage of cancer. 3 Your age and general health 4 Your body weight 5 How well you can cope with certain side effects 6 Any other medical conditions you have 7 Previous cancer treatments
Does chemotherapy cause cancer?
Because cancer cells usually grow and divide faster than normal cells, chemotherapy has more of an effect on cancer cells. However, the drugs used for chemotherapy are powerful, and they can still cause damage to healthy cells. This damage causes the side effects that are linked with chemotherapy.
What is the treatment for cancer called?
These include: Before surgery or radiation therapy to shrink tumors. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After surgery or radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy. As the only treatment.
What is the treatment for cancer before surgery?
These include: Before surgery or radiation therapy to shrink tumors. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After surgery or radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy. As the only treatment.
How does chemotherapy work?
Share on Pinterest. Drazen / Getty Images. Chemotherapy (“chemo”) works by destroying cancer cells in your body. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, chemotherapy treatment may target primary tumors or cells that have spread to other parts of your body. Chemo may also help treat cancer-related pain.
What is the goal of chemo?
The goal is to target cancer cells when they may be most active while also allowing your body recovery time to build healthy ones. Still, your exact treatment plan depends on the: type of cancer you have. stage of cancer. types of chemo drugs used, and whether you’re taking other drugs, such as targeted therapies.
Does chemotherapy shrink cancer?
Partial response. This means that the chemotherapy has helped shrink cancer tumors and prevent the spread of the condition, but cancer cells still exist in your body . Stable disease. This means that chemotherapy hasn’t changed the amount of cancer in your body, and that any tumors you had before haven’t shrunk or grown.
Why do people take chemo?
primary reason you’re taking chemo — for example, to prevent tumor spread or to alleviate pain. how your cancer responds to the treatment. how you tolerate the treatment. other possible health conditions you may have, such as diabetes or heart conditions.
How to tell if chemo is working?
The best way to tell if chemotherapy is working for your cancer is through follow-up testing with your doctor. Throughout your treatment, an oncologist will conduct regular visits, and blood and imaging tests to detect cancer cells and whether they’ve grown or shrunk.
What is the first line of treatment for cancer?
To treat cancer cells with chemotherapy, your doctor will determine the best cellular phases in which to administer your treatment. Since cancer cells multiply or divide quickly, chemo may be considered a first line of treatment for more aggressive forms of cancer.
How does chemotherapy work?
It works by using strong drugs to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide more quickly than many healthy cell types. However, it’s still possible for chemotherapy to target healthy cells that also divide quickly. Some examples include cells in the digestive tract, immune system, ...
How to stop chemotherapy?
Avoid gyms. Since chemotherapy can weaken your immune system, it’s a good idea to avoid crowded gyms during your treatment. Know when to stop. If you experience symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain during your workout, stop the workout and speak with your doctor about other ways to stay active.
Is chemotherapy good for cancer?
Resources and support. Bottom line. Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment. It works by using strong drugs to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide more quickly than many healthy cell types. However, it’s still possible for chemotherapy to target healthy cells that also divide quickly.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
When this happens, it can lead to side effects like lowered immunity, hair loss, and nausea or vomiting. There are certain precautions that you can take to limit your side effects and help make treatment safer. We’ll explore nine things to avoid during chemotherapy treatment.
Does chemotherapy cause weight loss?
Chemotherapy can sometimes lead to a loss of appetite. This can happen due to side effects like nausea, mouth sores, or feeling fatigued. It’s still important to eat, even if you don’t feel like you’re very hungry. Not eating enough can lead to weight loss and can make fatigue worse.
Does smoking affect chemotherapy?
As such, smoking during chemotherapy can negatively impact your treatment. One way that it can do this is by making side effects worse.
Can chemotherapy cause skin to be sensitive to UV light?
It’s possible that chemotherapy may cause your skin to become more sensitive to UV light, which is found in both natural sunlight and in tanning beds. In this case, exposure to UV light can lead to burning and skin reactions.
Overview
Why It's Done
Risks
- Side effects of chemotherapy drugs can be significant. Each drug has different side effects, and not every drug causes every side effect. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the particular drugs you'll receive.
How You Prepare
- How you prepare for chemotherapy depends on which drugs you'll receive and how they'll be administered. Your doctor will give you specific instructions to prepare for your chemotherapy treatments. You may need to: 1. Have a device surgically inserted before intravenous chemotherapy.If you'll be receiving your chemotherapy intravenously — into a vein — your docto…
What You Can Expect
- Determining which chemotherapy drugs you'll receive
Your doctor chooses which chemotherapy drugs you'll receive based on several factors, including: 1. Type of cancer 2. Stage of cancer 3. Overall health 4. Previous cancer treatments 5. Your goals and preferences Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Together you can decide what… - How chemotherapy drugs are given
Chemotherapy drugs can be given in different ways, including: 1. Chemotherapy infusions.Chemotherapy is most often given as an infusion into a vein (intravenously). The drugs can be given by inserting a tube with a needle into a vein in your arm or into a device in a vein in …
Results
- You'll meet with your cancer doctor (oncologist) regularly during chemotherapy treatment. Your oncologist will ask about any side effects you're experiencing, since many can be controlled. Depending on your situation, you may also undergo scans and other tests to monitor your cancer during chemotherapy treatment. These tests can give your doctor an idea of how your cancer is …
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiesof tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.