Chemotherapy is a type of treatment for cancer where medicine is used to kill cancer cells. It can be given either as a tablet, or as an injection or infusion directly into a vein.CancerCancer refers to a number of conditions where the body’s cells grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The rapid growth of cancerous cells is known as a malignant tumour. These cells can spread out of the tumour and into other parts of the body to form new tumours.How chemotherapy is usedThere are four main ways that chemotherapy can be used:to try to cure cancer completely – this is known as curative chemotherapyto help make other treatments more effective – for example, chemotherapy can be combined with radiotherapy (where radiation is used to kill cancerous cells), or it can be used before surgeryto relieve symptoms – a cure may not be possible for advanced cancer, but chemotherapy may be used to relieve the symptoms and slow the spread of the condition. This is known as palliative chemotherapyto reduce the risk of the cancer returning after surgery or radiotherapyRead more about how chemotherapy is carried out.Side effectsChemotherapy is a very effective cancer treatment and has helped save millions of lives. However, it does cause side effects.The medications used in chemotherapy are not very good at telling the difference between fast-growing cancer cells and other types of fast-growing cells. These include blood cells, skin cells, the cells on the scalp and the cells inside the stomach.This means that most chemotherapy medications have a poisonous effect on the body’s cells. Common side effects include:feeling tired and weak all the timefeeling sickbeing sickhair loss, although this can sometimes be prevented using a technique called a cold capRead more about the side effects of chemotherapy.Some people only have minimal side effects. However, for most people, a course of chemotherapy can be very unpleasant and upsetting.In many cases, having chemotherapy will make you feel worse than the cancer you are being treated for.Living with and adapting to the side effects of chemotherapy can be challenging. But it’s important to realise that most, if not all, side effects will disappear once the treatment is complete.Some people who are about to start chemotherapy are concerned that the harmful effects of chemotherapy can be passed to other people, particularly people who are vulnerable, such as children or pregnant women. However, there is no risk associated with coming into close contact with someone who is having chemotherapy. Google+ Overview of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment for cancer where medicine is used to kill cancer cells. It can be given either as a tablet, or as an injection or infusion directly into a vein.
Cancer
Cancer refers to a number of conditions where the body’s cells grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The rapid growth of cancerous cells is known as a malignant tumour. These cells can spread out of the tumour and into other parts of the body to form new tumours.
How chemotherapy is used
There are four main ways that chemotherapy can be used:
Read more about how chemotherapy is carried out.
Side effects
Chemotherapy is a very effective cancer treatment and has helped save millions of lives. However, it does cause side effects.
The medications used in chemotherapy are not very good at telling the difference between fast-growing cancer cells and other types of fast-growing cells. These include blood cells, skin cells, the cells on the scalp and the cells inside the stomach.
This means that most chemotherapy medications have a poisonous effect on the body’s cells. Common side effects include:
Read more about the side effects of chemotherapy.
Some people only have minimal side effects. However, for most people, a course of chemotherapy can be very unpleasant and upsetting.
In many cases, having chemotherapy will make you feel worse than the cancer you are being treated for.
Living with and adapting to the side effects of chemotherapy can be challenging. But it’s important to realise that most, if not all, side effects will disappear once the treatment is complete.
Some people who are about to start chemotherapy are concerned that the harmful effects of chemotherapy can be passed to other people, particularly people who are vulnerable, such as children or pregnant women. However, there is no risk associated with coming into close contact with someone who is having chemotherapy.
