Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, in which medication is used to destroy rapidly dividing malignant cells, is a common treatment for patients with cancer. Although the goal of chemotherapy is to eliminate only malignant cells, healthy cells, such as those in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract and hair follicles, are also usually affected. Chemotherapy is often the first choice for treating cancer, and can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy. It is usually administered by a medical oncologist, who specializes in treating cancer with medication, or a hematologist, who specializes in treating blood disorders.
Administration of Chemotherapy
Depending on the type, severity and location of the cancer, chemotherapy can be administered in a variety of ways:
- Intravenously, through a vein into the bloodstream
- Intra-arterially, into the artery supplying blood to the cancer
- Intraperitoneally, into the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen
- Orally, as a pill, capsule or liquid
- By injection, into a muscle or fatty tissue
Chemotherapy may also be applied to the skin as a cream or lotion for cases of basal-cell or squamous-cell skin cancer.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
The aim of chemotherapy is to eliminate the cancer. If that is not possible, controlling the disease or easing its symptoms is the goal. Because chemotherapy typically damages healthy cells as well as malignant ones, side effects during treatment are common. After treatment ends, and healthy cells begin to recover, most side effects usually lessen or end. Side effects include the following:
- Hair loss
- Dry mouth
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Fatigue and loss of appetite
Chemotherapy drugs can also cause side effects that do not manifest themselves until years after treatment has ended. Late-developing side effects vary depending on the type of chemotherapy drug used, but include the following:
- Heart problems
- Lung-tissue damage
- Infertility
- Kidney problems
- Nerve damage
- Risk of a second cancer
Newer forms of drugs to treat cancer have been developed, but they are often used in conjunction with traditional chemotherapy. Hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy drugs are designed to destroy only malignant cells without harming healthy ones. As with traditional chemotherapy, however, there may be unpleasant side effects. Managing side effects, whether from traditional or newer types of chemotherapy, should be discussed with the physician before treatment begins.