Chemotherapy

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy uses medicines to destroy cancer cells and other cells that divide quickly. The aim may be to treat the disease, lower the chance of it returning, slow its growth, or shrink a tumour that is causing pain or other problems.

Alongside other treatments

• Before surgery or radiotherapy: to shrink a tumour
• After surgery or radiotherapy: to destroy remaining cells
• With other treatments: chemotherapy can help them work better
• When cancer has returned or spread

How is it given?

The most common way is into a vein, sometimes through a catheter or port. It may also be a pill, capsule or liquid, or an injection under the skin or into a muscle. Treatment can take place in a hospital, clinic, office or at home.

Why does it come in cycles?

Each cycle is a period of treatment followed by a rest. For example, you might have medicine for one week and none for three weeks. During the rest the body has time to make new healthy cells. Schedules differ, and the doctor sometimes changes them because of side effects.

Where do side effects come from?

The medicine also harms healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those lining the mouth and bowel and those at the root of the hair. That is why mouth sores, nausea, hair loss and eating problems can occur. Tiredness is the most common side effect. Side effects often improve or go away after treatment ends.

Take infection seriously

Chemotherapy can lower the number of neutrophils. These white blood cells fight infection, and at certain points in each cycle a shortage raises the risk of infection. A fever of 38°C or higher can be a sign of infection, and infection can become dangerous at this time. Call your care team straight away, and speak to them before taking a fever reducer, because it may hide an important sign.