Chemotherapy involves using chemical agents to treat or manage diseases, primarily cancer. It targets rapidly dividing cells, including cancerous cells, but can also affect healthy cells like those in hair follicles, bone marrow, and the reproductive system. While the potential side effects can cause anxiety, it’s important to remember that healthy cells typically regenerate after treatment.
Chemotherapy is often used alongside radiation or surgery.
Advantages of Chemotherapy
Unlike radiation, which focuses on a specific area, chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, meaning it affects the entire body. This allows it to target cancer cells that may have spread beyond the primary tumor site. Doctors use chemotherapy based on the cancer’s type and stage to:
* Destroy cancer cells throughout the body.
* Extend life expectancy by controlling cancer growth and spread.
* Relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Chemotherapy Types and Administration
Combination chemotherapy, using multiple drugs, is common to prevent drug resistance and target cancer cells through various mechanisms. Your doctor will determine the best combination based on your age, overall health, and tolerance, using regimens tested on patients with similar conditions.
Common types of chemotherapy drugs include:
1. Alkylating agents: These interfere with DNA replication, preventing cancer cell growth.
2. Antimetabolites: These block enzymes that cancer cells need to survive.
3. Anti-tumor antibiotics: These disrupt cell membranes and block enzymes needed for cell division (these are distinct from general antibiotics).
4. Nitrosoureas: These interfere with DNA repair mechanisms.
5. Mitotic inhibitors: These hinder cell division by affecting essential enzymes.
Chemotherapy is administered in cycles, considering the drugs used and the patient’s condition. The drugs travel throughout the body, and common administration methods include:
1. Intravenous (IV) infusion: The drug is injected directly into a vein.
2. Oral medication: Chemotherapeutic pills are swallowed.
3. Topical application: Ointments are applied to the skin for skin cancers.
4. Intramuscular injection: The drug is injected into a muscle.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, dry mouth, constipation, and loss of appetite. More serious long-term effects can include damage to the heart, lungs, or kidneys. In rare cases, patients may experience blood in the urine, nerve damage, or develop secondary cancers like lymphoma or leukemia.