Chemotherapy

How does chemotherapy work? 

Cancer cells divide and multiply faster than normal cells do. Chemotherapy medications travel throughout your body, targeting these rapidly dividing cells and killing them or preventing them from multiplying. Unlike radiation therapy and surgery, which treat specific areas, chemotherapy can target cancer cells that exist anywhere in your body. However, that also means the drugs can kill healthy cells and, as a result, cause side effects such as digestive issues and hair loss. 

Chemotherapy treatments can involve multiple drugs and combinations of drugs. Your oncologist (a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment) may recommend chemotherapy or another treatment based on your type of cancer, whether it has spread to other parts of your body and your overall health. 

Chemotherapy can be used in various ways: 

• Adjuvant therapy: Adjuvant chemotherapy is given after another treatment, such as surgery or radiation therapy. You will be given drugs to kill any cancer cells that remain after your initial treatment or cancer cells that have moved to other parts of your body.
• Curative therapy: Curative chemotherapy aims to destroy your cancer completely and prevent it from coming back.
• Neoadjuvant therapy: Neoadjuvant treatments are given before surgery or radiation therapy to shrink a tumor to make it easier to remove or destroy.
• Palliative therapy: Palliative chemotherapy aims to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. It might make you feel more comfortable by reducing the size of a tumor, but it will not completely remove or cure your cancer. 

What to expect 

Your doctor will explain which medications you will receive and how they will be delivered. Chemotherapy comes in many forms, including pills, topical creams, injections and infusions. Your cancer care team will work with you to ensure you understand your treatment schedule and how long treatments will last.

Before your medical and treatment appointments, you might want to write down questions to ask your care team. You may also want to ask for a hard copy of your treatment schedule.

Your nurse navigator and other members of your team will be by your side throughout your cancer journey. They can help you manage physical side effects and put you in touch with support groups and other resources to address the emotional aspects of care. 

Frequently asked questions

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