Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anticancer" drugs.
How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Normal cells grow and die in a controlled way. When cancer occurs, cells in the body that are not normal keep dividing and forming more cells without control. Anticancer drugs destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing or multiplying. Healthy cells can also be harmed, especially those that divide quickly. Harm to healthy cells is what causes side effects. These cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy.
Because some drugs work better together than alone, two or more drugs are often given at the same time. This is called combination chemotherapy.
Other types of drugs may be used to treat your cancer. These may include certain drugs that can block the effect of your body's hormones. Or doctors may use biological therapy, which is treatment with substances that boost the body's own immune system against cancer. Your body usually makes these substances in small amounts to fight cancer and other diseases. These substances can be made in the laboratory and given to patients to destroy cancer cells or change the way the body reacts to a tumor. They may also help the body repair or make new cells destroyed by chemotherapy.
How Is Chemo Given?
An oncologist (cancer specialist) works with other health care professionals to decide on the type of chemotherapy treatment that will work best for each individual cancer patient.
There are many different ways that chemo medications are given, including:
Intravenously (IV). A needle is inserted into a vein and the medicine flows from an IV bag or bottle into the bloodstream. Chemo can also be delivered intravenously through a catheter, a thin flexible tube that is placed in a large vein in the body.
Orally. The person getting treatment swallows a pill, capsule, or liquid form of chemo medication.
By injection. Using a needle or syringe, the drugs are injected into a muscle or under the skin.
Intrathecally. A needle is inserted into the fluid-filled space surrounding the spinal cord and the chemo drugs are injected into the spinal fluid.
Chemotherapy may be used alone to treat cancer, or it may be used in combination with other cancer treatments, such as radiationtherapy or surgery. Radiation therapy directs high-energy X-rays at a person's body to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Surgery helps to remove larger tumors, making the job of the chemotherapy easier. The kind of therapy a person receives is based on the type of cancer that person has and whether it has spread to areas outside where it started.
Most cancers are treated with more than one chemotherapy drug; doctors refer to this as combination chemotherapy. For a lot of people, combination therapy improves the chances that their cancer will be cured — the cancer has less chance of building up a resistance to a combination of chemotherapy drugs than it does to just one drug. (Resistance means that the body no longer reacts to that medication.) Another important strategy in treating cancer is giving a person repeated courses of chemotherapy. This helps prevent the cancer cells from regrowing.
When and Where Chemo Is Given
Most people receive their chemo treatments at a hospital and go home after chemo. Sometimes, though, people who are getting chemo treatments may need to stay in the hospital so doctors can watch for side effects.
Some people receive chemotherapy every day; others receive it every week or every month. Doctors use the word "cycles" to describe chemotherapy treatments because the treatment periods are mixed in with periods of rest.
Common Temporary Side Effects
While chemotherapy works to treat cancer, normal cells — like hair cells, which also divide rapidly — can be affected, too. This can cause problems, which are known as side effects are usually temporary and are different from person to person, depending on the person's age, the type of treatment, and where the cancer is located.
Some of the side effects of chemotherapy are:
Fatigue. It's quite common for people who are having chemotherapy to feel very tired and may be exhausted even after sleeping or resting.
Discomfort andpain. Some people may feel a little discomfort when the catheter or IV needle is put in the skin.
Skinchanges. People who are receiving chemo treatments may find their skin becomes red, sensitive, or irritated.
Hair loss and scalpproblems. Some people who get chemo lose their hair. It may become thinner and then fall out completely or in clumps. People who are receiving chemo may lose hair all over their bodies, including the head, face, arms and legs, underarms, and pubic area. Most people who lose their hair during chemotherapy find that it grows back once treatment has ended, usually within 3 months.
Mouth, gum, and throat sores. Chemotherapy may cause sores in the mouth, gums, and throat, or cause a person's gums to become irritated and bleed. A doctor may prescribe a mouth rinse or other products to reduce pain, dryness, and irritation.
Stomach problems. People receiving chemotherapy may feel sick, not feel like eating, or throw up during the course of their treatment. They may also have loose bowel movements or become constipated.
Because chemotherapy can cause long-term side effects (known as late effects), it is critical that people who have had cancer continue to get routine medical care even after their cancer has been cured. Depending on their treatment, people who have had cancer should get regular heart and lung exams, as well as blood tests for thyroid function.
It's important for anyone who's receiving chemotherapy treatments to tell nurses or doctors about side effects so they can help treat the problem. Doctors who treat people using chemotherapy aren't just working to cure cancer; they also want their patients to be as comfortable as possible while they're having chemotherapy.
Helping Yourself Feel Better During Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can be frightening to think about. If you're undergoing chemo, your doctors, nurses, and other members of the cancer treatment team are there to reassure you before, during, and after.
You can also look for support from friends and family. Your friends make you feel good when you're healthy — so surrounding yourself with friends when you're sick is sure to be a pick-me-up. Phone and email are great ways to keep in touch, even if you're having a bad day. If you're afraid that your friends will feel weird or embarrassed, talk to a parent or nurse about some ideas on how to cope.
In addition to dealing with the many emotions you'll feel, you have to manage the physical stuff, too. Try these tips for relaxing more comfortably during treatment:
Sleep long, sleep often. Your body needs plenty of rest to recover from chemotherapy. Scale back on strenuous stuff, and make time to get a good night's sleep every night.
Focus on good nutrition. If you have nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, your appetite's probably in the toilet, too. Try to stick to foods high in nutrients and eat a balanced diet to prevent weight loss and stay healthy. Several small meals may be easier to eat than fewer larger ones, and eating every few hours can prevent you from feeling too hungry. Skip fatty, greasy, fried, or spicy foods — things that may make you feel nauseated — and eat bland foods like crackers, toast, and popsicles that may be easier for your stomach to handle.
If you're frequently sick to your stomach, ask your doctor about anti-nausea medicine.
Drink up. You may not feel like drinking, but clear broth, juices, and sports drinks can replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Room-temperature beverages may be easier to drink than hot or cold liquids.
Protect your scalp. To protect your head from sun exposure and irritation, wear soft hats and scarves. Until your hair grows back, you may feel more comfortable wearing hats, scarves, or wigs. Use only mild shampoos and hair products.
Practice infection protection. Wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and after touching animals. If friends or family members have infections such as colds, the flu, or chickenpox, they should skip visiting until they're feeling better. It's also a good idea to avoid crowds until you feel better.
Once you've finished chemo, it's still important to visit the doctor for follow-up appointments. During these checkups, the doctor will want to know how you're feeling and whether you're experiencing any side effects. He or she will also check to see whether there are any signs of the cancer coming back.
Undergoing treatment for cancer can be time-consuming, scary, and sometimes painful. But for people who beat cancer, there may be a silver lining — cancer survivors are often tougher, have a greater appreciation of what life has to offer, and possess the courage and perseverance it takes to follow their dreams.