© 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body. Your doctor may be able to help you manage some of the more severe side effects of chemotherapy. You can prepare for this by getting someone to drive you back and forth from treatment. Watch for signs of infection around your catheter. (3) The internet is a wealth of knowledge, but it's also a wealth of garbage. It may be helpful to arrive for your first chemotherapy treatment well rested. You may carry this pump with you, or a surgeon may place it under your skin. Chemotherapy drugs can also cause side effects that don't become evident until months or years after treatment. See more. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout your body. Your oncologist works with other team members to make your treatment plan. Purpose The main purpose of chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells. Once a cycle has been planned out, it’s better not to skip a treatment, but your doctor may suggest it if side effects are serious. You may need to: Make arrangements for help at home and at work. Some anticancer agents are taken orally (by mouth). Each drug has different side effects, and not every drug causes every side effect. It can also be used to reduce or control the side effects of cancer treatments. Chemotherapy is a powerful cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. If a cancer responds to the chemotherapy, meaning it shrinks or vanishes after a person receives the chemo drugs, the cancer is described as "chemosensitive." Although starting treatment like chemotherapy can be reassuring, it can also be confusing and scary. Your oncologist will ask about any side effects you're experiencing, since many can be controlled. After treatment completion, a period of time is allowed to go by so the maximum effect is achieved, with the tumor shrinking or the malignant cells dying. Cells can’t live without DNA and die off when they’re deprived of it. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Should you get vaccinations with a suppressed immune system? 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. Cancer.Net. Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where medicine is used to kill cancer cells. Chemo definition, chemotherapy or a chemotherapy treatment. Most side effects subside after treatment ends. There are no standards for establishing chemotherapy acronyms so there is a lack of consistency. They stop cancer cells reproducing, which prevents them from growing and spreading in the body. Though chemotherapy is an effective way to treat many types of cancer, chemotherapy treatment also carries a risk of side effects. Adjuvant Chemotherapy Ask your doctor if you'll need time off work or help around your home after treatment. Ask what signs and symptoms you should be aware of that may signal a problem. Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells anywhere in the body. It targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancer cells do. This content does not have an Arabic version. The other end stays outside your body and is used to deliver chemotherapy or other drugs, or to draw blood. Chemotherapy and you: Support for people with cancer. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Treatments/Cyclophosphamide-Cytoxan. Where you'll receive your chemotherapy treatments depends on your situation. You may also view our chemotherapy drug list by drug name. Your team may include the following people: Medical oncologist. On days you don’t feel well, you may want to see if you can work fewer hours or work from home. Your nurse inserts the needle and removes it when treatment is done. Chemotherapy: using chemicals to kill cancer cells; Radiation therapy: using X-rays to kill cancer cells The same cancer type in one individual is very different from that cancer in another individual. Allscripts EPSi. Port: It’s a small disc that a surgeon places under your skin. Niederhuber JE, et al., eds. Learn about short-term effects of chemotherapy.. Together you can decide what's right for you. Pump: Often attached to catheters or ports, it controls the amount of chemotherapy drugs, and how fast they get into your body. 6th ed. What to expect when having chemotherapy. The needle can be left in place for treatments that last more than a day. Then your medical team will likely plan a new cycle to help you get back on track. It's important to know that not all medicines and drugs to treat cancer work the same way. You might wish to eat a light meal beforehand in case your chemotherapy medications cause nausea. Not all chemo drugs cause hair loss. Make sure to read your health insurance policy to find out exactly what it will and won’t pay for, and whether you can go to a doctor that you choose for your chemotherapy treatment. Have a friend or family member drive you to your first treatment. Most people can drive themselves to and from chemotherapy sessions. Catheter: It’s a soft, thin tube. We value your privacy. The term chemotherapy often refers to a kind of treatment for cancer in which chemicals are administered to destroy cancer cells. That’s what causes some of the side effects from the treatment. Click the drug name to learn how it works and common side effects. Vaccine updates, safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, See our safety precautions in response to COVID-19, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition, Cancer treatment during COVID-19: How to move ahead safely, Cancer treatment for men: Possible sexual side effects, Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment. Late side effects vary depending on the chemotherapy drug but can include: Ask your doctor if you have a risk of any late side effects. Chemotherapy (chemo) is a type of treatment that includes a medication or combination of medications to treat cancer. Chemotherapy is sometimes needed to kill any leftover cancer cells. Chemotherapy refers to the use of any drug to treat any disease. It depends on your overall health, the type of cancer you have, how far along it is, and the amount and type of chemotherapy drugs. Prepare for your first treatment. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Cancer pharmacology. Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells anywhere in the body. It may be used to cure cancer, help keep it from spreading, or reduce symptoms. But it can also affect some fast-growing healthy cells, like those of the skin, hair, intestines, and bone marrow. In some cases, people are treated with a single type of chemotherapy. Needle: Drugs may be sent through a thin needle in a vein on your hand or lower arm. On the flip side, if a cancer is "chemorefractory," it does not shrink or vanish in response to the administered chemo drugs. A list of chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer. It usually is used to treat patients with cancer that has spread from the place in the body where it started (metastasized). Your doctor will give you specific instructions to prepare for your chemotherapy treatments. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Chemotherapy for Cancer - Chemotherapy: How It Works and How You'll Feel, Liver Cancer: Symptoms, Tests, and Treatments, 10 Things You Didn't Know About Chemotherapy, How Chemotherapy Affects Your Body After Treatment, Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions, Moving Forward After You're Done With Chemotherapy, Understanding Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shrink a tumor before radiation therapy or surgery -- called neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery or radiation therapy -- called adjuvant chemotherapy, Make other therapies (biological or radiation) more effective, Destroy cancer cells that return or spread to other parts of your body, The goal of treatment: cure, control growth, or ease, The way your body responds to the treatment. It depends on the kind of cancer you have and how far along it is. Warner KJ. The goal of chemo is to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells. NIH National Cancer Institute: “Radiation Therapy for Cancer,” “Biological Therapies for Cancer,” “Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer.”, National Cancer Society: “What Is Targeted Cancer Therapy?”, OncoLink.org: “Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (IP Chemo).”. Q. Occasionally, chemo may be given directly into the spinal fluid which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. That doesn't mean chemo has no benefit. Chemotherapy drugs can be given in different ways, including: Your doctor determines how often you'll receive chemotherapy treatments based on what drugs you'll receive, the characteristics of your cancer and how well your body recovers after each treatment. Common long-term side effects of chemotherapy include early menopause and weight gain.Rare side effects include heart problems and leukemia.. Also called “chemo,” it’s a way to treat cancer that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. But to most people, the word chemotherapy (or "chemo") means drugs used for cancer treatment. Chemo is medicine used to shrink a tumor or kill cancer cells. Also called " chemo " for short. Most cancer chemotherapeutic drugs are given IV (into a vein) or IM (into muscle). Tell your doctor right away if you feel pain or burning during treatment. Accessed Oct. 1, 2019. Your doctor puts one end into a large vein, often in your chest area. Since ending his treatment, his personality has … The truth is chemotherapy isn't only for cancer patients, and affects each patient differently depending on how it is used. American College of Rheumatology. What is chemotherapy (chemo)? Common side effects of chemotherapy drugs include: Many of these side effects can be prevented or treated. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the particular drugs you'll receive. 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