Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is sometimes used alone or in conjunction with other treatments such as radiation or surgery. It is a conventional medical strategy that can help:
- Destroy cancer cells
- Shrink tumors
- Stop cancer cells from multiplying or growing
Healthy cells also can be harmed during chemo, which can cause side effects. These cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy.
How it's used: Chemo is a drug therapy given at home, at the hospital, or at a doctor's office. It is administered either intravenously, orally, through an injection, or by application to the skin. Depending on the type of cancer you have, chemo is used to cure your cancer, control growth, kill cells, and/or to relieve pain and other symptoms.
Side effects: The healthy cells most likely to be affected are found in bone marrow, the reproductive system, the digestive tract, and hair follicles. Your symptoms will depend on the kind and dose of medication you are taking. You may or may not experience fatigue, nausea, pain, hair loss, infection, and/or anemia. Visit the Coping with Side Effects Tool for strategies to deal with these side effects.
