What is chemotherapy and what does it do?
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. On This Page How chemotherapy works against cancer Which types of cancer does chemotherapy treat How chemotherapy is used with other cancer treatments Chemotherapy can cause side effects How much chemotherapy costs
What are the pros and cons of chemotherapy?
The word "chemotherapy" ("chemo") is often used when referring to medicines or drugs that treat cancer. But, not all drugs used to treat cancer work in the same way. Traditional or standard chemotherapy uses drugs that are cytotoxic, meaning they can kill tumor cells. If your treatment plan includes traditional or standard chemotherapy, knowing how it works and what to expect …
What to expect during chemotherapy treatment?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It usually works by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. Because cancer cells usually grow and divide faster than normal cells, chemotherapy has more of an effect on cancer cells.
What are some treatment options besides chemo?
Jan 05, 2021 · Chemotherapy is primarily used to: lower the total number of cancer cells in your body reduce the likelihood of cancer spreading shrink tumor size reduce current symptoms
How is chemotherapy done?
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. Chemotherapy pills. Some chemotherapy drugs can be taken in pill or capsule form.Mar 5, 2020
At what stage of cancer is chemotherapy used?
Systemic drug treatments, such as targeted therapy or chemotherapy, are common for stage 4 cancers. Often, a clinical trial may be an option, offering new treatments to help you fight stage 4 cancer.Feb 11, 2022
What is chemotherapy and how does it work?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It usually works by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. Because cancer cells usually grow and divide faster than normal cells, chemotherapy has more of an effect on cancer cells.
How long does a chemo treatment last?
Average length of chemotherapy One course of chemo treatment may last between 3 to 6 months. Typically, one course consists of several on-and-off cycles. One cycle usually lasts 2 to 6 weeks.Apr 13, 2021
Does Stage 3 cancer require chemo?
In general, regimens for stage 3 cancers typically start with either surgery or treatment to shrink the tumor before surgery, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of both. Stage 3 breast cancer treatment: The first step is typically either chemotherapy or surgery.Mar 2, 2022
Is chemotherapy painful?
Does chemotherapy hurt? IV chemotherapy should not cause any pain while being administered. If you experience pain, contact the nurse taking care of you to check your IV line. An exception would be if there is a leak and the drug gets into surrounding tissues.Dec 9, 2019
What are the side effects of chemo?
What are common side effects of chemo?Fatigue.Hair loss.Easy bruising and bleeding.Infection.Anemia (low red blood cell counts)Nausea and vomiting.Appetite changes.Constipation.More items...•May 1, 2020
How quickly does chemo work?
Some people feel the effects of chemo right away, but for others, it takes a day or two.Feb 25, 2021
What is the price of chemotherapy?
The average cost of Chemotherapy in India is INR Rs. 18,000. The maximum charge for Chemotherapy in India is up to INR Rs. 50,000.
What percentage of chemo patients survive?
Five years after treatment, the rate of invasive disease-free survival was 93.1% for those who had chemo and 92.8% for those who did not. Nine years after treatment, the rate of invasive disease-free survival was 84.3% for those who had chemo and 83.3% for those who did not.Jun 4, 2018
How is life after chemotherapy?
When treatment ends, you may expect life to return to the way it was before you were diagnosed with cancer. But it can take time to recover. You may have permanent scars on your body, or you may not be able to do some things you once did easily. Or you may even have emotional scars from going through so much.
How many rounds of chemo can you have?
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
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.
Why is chemotherapy used?
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. Doctors call this neoadjuvant therapy. To ease signs and symptoms. Chemotherapy may help relieve signs and symptoms of cancer by killing some of the cancer cells.
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.
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 drugs cause side effects?
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.
What is bone marrow transplant?
Diseases that affect the bone marrow and blood cells may be treated with a bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant. Chemotherapy is often used to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. Immune system disorders.
Can chemo cause hair loss?
For instance, if your chemotherapy treatment will cause infertility, you may wish to consider your options for preserving your sperm or eggs for future use. If your chemotherapy will cause hair loss, consider planning for a head covering. Make arrangements for help at home and at work.
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 ...
What is chemotherapy used for?
After surgery or radiation therapy to help kill any remaining cancer cells in the body . Chemo used in this way is called adjuvant therapy. With other types of drugs to help kill cancer cells, such as targeted therapy drugs that act on certain targets of cancer cells or immunotherapy drugs that help the immune system fight cancer.
What are the factors that determine cancer?
Factors a cancer care team considers when recommending treatment options include: 1 The type and subtype of cancer 2 The stage of the cancer (how far it has spread) 3 Results of other tests on the tumor, such as biomarkers 4 The patient’s age 5 The patient’s overall health and current medications 6 Other serious health problems (such as heart, liver, or kidney diseases) 7 Types of cancer treatments given in the past
How often is chemo given?
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. Sometimes, doses may be given a certain number of days in a row, or every other day for several days, followed by a period of rest. Some drugs work best when given continuously over a set number of days.
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.
What is the goal of chemo?
When the cancer is at an advanced stage, probably cannot be controlled, and has spread, the goal of giving chemo may be to improve the quality of life or help the person feel better. For instance, chemo may be used to help shrink a tumor that’s causing pain ...
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 ...
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 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
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.
How long does chemo last?
Chemotherapy is often given for a specific time, such as 6 months or a year. Or you might receive chemotherapy for as long as it works. Side effects from many drugs are too severe to give treatment every day. Doctors usually give these drugs with breaks, so you have time to rest and recover before the next treatment.
What is the term for cancer that comes back after treatment?
For example, to treat cancers of the blood or lymphatic system, such as leukemia and lymphoma. For cancer that comes back after treatment, called recurrent cancer . For cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, called metastatic cancer.
How long does it take for chemo to heal?
This lets your healthy cells heal. For example, you might get a dose of chemotherapy on the first day and then have 3 weeks of recovery time before repeating the treatment.
What is chemo used for?
Besides treatment for cancer, chemotherapy may be used to prepare people with bone marrow diseases for a bone marrow stem cell treatment, and it may be used for immune system disorders.
How is chemo given?
Chemotherapy is typically given in pill form or directly into veins by injection or an IV. In addition to these two forms, chemotherapy may also be administered in several other ways.
Why is chemotherapy used for cancer?
Chemotherapy is also used to prepare you for other treatments. It could be used to shrink a tumor so it can be surgically removed , or to prepare you for radiation therapy. In the case of late-stage cancer, chemotherapy may help relieve pain. Besides treatment for cancer, chemotherapy may be used to prepare people with bone marrow diseases ...
What is the treatment for cancer called?
What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is an aggressive form of chemical drug therapy meant to destroy rapidly growing cells in the body. It’s usually used to treat cancer, as cancer cells grow and divide faster than other cells. A doctor who specializes in cancer treatment is known as an oncologist.
How to prepare for chemotherapy?
Prepare your house. Do laundry, stock up on groceries, and do other tasks you may be too weak to do after your first appointment .
Where is chemo delivered?
Chemotherapy can be delivered to a specific part of the body through localized treatment, such as directly into the abdomen, chest, central nervous system, or into the bladder through the urethra. Some types of chemotherapy can be taken by mouth through pills.
What is the best treatment for breast cancer?
reduce current symptoms. If you’ve undergone surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, such as a lumpectomy for breast cancer, your oncologist may recommend chemotherapy to ensure that any lingering cancer cells are killed, as well. Chemotherapy is also used to prepare you for other treatments.
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 .
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 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:
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.
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.
Where is chemo injected?
Intrathecal(IT) chemotherapy:Medicine is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is found in the area surrounding the spinal cord and the brain. Intravenous (IV):The chemotherapy goes directly into a vein.
Can you feel tired after chemo?
It’s common to feel ill or very tiredafter chemotherapy. You can prepare for this by getting someone to drive you back and forth from treatment. You should also plan to rest on the day of and the day after treatment. During this time, it may help to get some help with meals and child care, if necessary.
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.
What are the side effects of a syringe?
Prepare for side effects. Your team will work with you to plan for side effects common to your specific treatment. These may include nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and other side effects. This can include recommendations about eating well and getting regular exercise.
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 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.
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. Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination to treat a wide variety of cancers. Tho…
Why It's Done
Risks
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.