Understanding

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to
kill cancer cells.
A doctor who specializes in treating
cancer with medication is called a
medical oncologist.
Some people may receive
chemotherapy in their doctor's office,
at an outpatient clinic, or at the
hospital; others may take the medicine
at home, depending on the type of

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment,

which means that it is delivered
through the bloodstream to target
cancer cells throughout the body.
Chemotherapy targets cells that are
actively growing because uncontrolled
growth is one of the characteristics of
cancer cells.
However, such drugs cannot
differentiate between normal cells that
are reproducing and cancerous cells;
side effects occur when the drugs

Uses of chemotherapy
as an adjuvant treatment (treatment
given after the main treatment, such
as surgery or radiation therapy) to kill
any cancer cells that remain.
as neoadjuvant therapy (treatment
given before surgery or radiation
therapy to shrink tumors).
to treat recurrent cancer (cancer that
comes back
after treatment)
or metastatic cancer (cancer that
has spread to
other parts of the

Goals of chemotherapy
The primary goal of chemotherapy is to
eliminate the cancer cells and
prevent recurrence (having the
cancer come back after treatment).
If it is not possible to eliminate the
cancer, chemotherapy may be used to
control the cancer by slowing its
growth
and/or to reduce symptoms caused

The chemotherapy treatment plan

More than 100 drugs are available to treat
cancer.
Often, oncologists will combine drugs to more
effectively treat a patient's cancer.
The drug or combination of drugsas well as
the dose and treatment schedulethat the
doctor recommends depends on many factors,
including
the type and stage (describes the size and
location of the
tumor and whether it has spread)
the patient's overall health
age
tolerance of certain side effects
presence of other medical conditions

Most people receive chemotherapy in

periods of treatment followed by
periods of recovery, which allow
noncancerous cells time to heal.

Patients may consider discussing this

schedule with their doctors.

Ways of receiving chemotherapy

Intravenously
Orally
As an injection
Intra-arterially
Intraperitoneally
Topically

Types of chemotherapy
Systemic cancer treatments work by
interfering in various ways with cancer cell
growth and division.
Traditional chemotherapy drugs interfere with
processes that are similar in cancer cells and
normal cells, such as making proteins or
dividing into new cells.
Meanwhile, some of the newer therapies
affect cancer cells by targeting processes that
are vital to the cancer cell but not important
to normal cells.
These newer therapies have different (and

Hormone therapy.
These treatments change the amount of hormones in
the body,
which helps because several types of
cancerincluding some breast and prostate cancers
can only grow and spread in the presence of
certain
hormones.

Targeted therapy.
These treatments target specific genes or proteins
within the cancer cell or affect the tissue environment
that contributes to cancer growth and survival.

Immunotherapy.
These treatments are designed to boost the
body's natural defenses to fight the cancer. It
uses materials made either by the body or in a
laboratory to bolster, target, or restore immune system
function.

Radiation Therapy
doctor - radiation oncologist
goal - to kill cancer cells without
harming the surrounding healthy
tissue
It may be used as the main
treatment
as an adjuvant therapy

can also be used to shrink tumors and

reduce pressure, pain, and other
symptoms of cancer (called palliative
radiation therapy) when it is not
possible to completely eliminate the
disease
Can be given
alone
in combination

Types of radiation therapy

External-beam radiation
therapy
Internal Radiation Therapy or
Brachytherapy

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

These vary from person to person
with the type and location of
cancer
the treatment dose
the person's health
Side effects may occur because the high
doses of radiation used to kill cancer cells can
also damage healthy cells around the

treatment area.
However, major improvements in radiation
technology have made it more precise,

For some people, radiation therapy

causes few or no side effects.
For others, the side effects are more
severe.
The reactions often begin by the

second or third week of

treatment and may last for several
weeks after the final radiation
treatment.
Your health care team will work with

Common side effects of radiation

therapy
skin problems - such as dryness
itching
blistering
peeling
- usually resolved within a few weeks after
treatment
- the doctor may change the dose or
schedule
fatigue (lack of energy)
a feeling of exhaustion that does not
improve with rest.

Depending on which part of your body receives

radiation therapy,
other side effects may include:
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Dry mouth
Trouble swallowing
Swelling
Hair loss
Sexual problems
Urinary and bladder changes

Ask and you shall

receive
John 16