Chemotherapy is also known as chemo for short. Using of medicines or chemical drugs to fight cancer is termed as chemotherapy. It is the first line of treatment to fight cancer. The present day chemotherapeutic substances are less cytotoxic in nature, compared to earlier versions and target the abnormally expressed proteins in cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is used to
Chemotherapy is used to treat all forms of cancer. Depending upon the prognosis of the patient chemotherapy as a stand-alone treatment may be sufficient or is used alongside radiation therapy or other forms of cancer treatment, to make the treatment more effective.
Chemotherapy is used to make a cancerous tumour small in size before the surgery to remove it and is known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
In certain cases, even after surgery or radiation therapies, some cancer cells continue to exist. To kill the remaining cancer cells adjuvant chemotherapy is sought after.
Chemotherapy is administered in the following forms
Your doctor examines you thoroughly and decides the kind and mode of chemotherapy to be administered. Chemotherapy is usually given in a cyclical order, for example 1 week of treatment followed by 2 to 3 weeks of rest for the treatment to work effectively. The number of cycles depends on the stage of cancer. Every individual responds uniquely to chemotherapy. Recovery may depend on the age and other underlying allied health conditions.
The effectiveness of chemotherapy is visualized through periodical investigations such as blood tests, CT scans, MRI’s or any other diagnostic procedures.
Chemotherapy does have certain side effects which disappear gradually. The potential side effects may include:
The cancer specialists take into consideration such potential risks while administering chemotherapy and advice you how to overcome the same. They may suggest changes to diet or allied medications to cope chemotherapy treatments. Chemotherapy treatment may require you to stay in the hospital in certain cases or you may visit the doctor as an out-patient depending on the condition.
Many individuals carry on their day to day activities like going to office during chemotherapy. However the doctor’s advice must be followed and one must rest to help the healthy cells recover.