Department of Chemotherephy

What is Chemotherephy?

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.

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.

Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells 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. 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. 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. Doctors call this palliative chemotherapy.

Common side effects of chemotherapy drugs include:

	Nausea
	Vomiting
	Diarrhea
	Hair loss
	Loss of appetite
	Fatigue
	Mouth sores
	Constipation
	Easy bruising
	Bleeding

Many of these side effects can be prevented or treated. Most side effects subside after treatment ends.

Is chemotherapy only for cancer?

The truth is chemotherapy isn't only for cancer patients, and affects each patient differently depending on how it is used. Chemotherapy is a widely used class of drugs to treat many different disorders including, but not limited to: cancers, blood disorders, and a plethora of autoimmune diseases.