Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill or control cancer cells. It is often used alone or in combination with other treatments to target and manage various types of cancer effectively. Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. It’s a systemic treatment, meaning it affects the whole body, unlike surgery or radiation that target specific areas.
1. How Chemotherapy Works
⇒Cancer cells divide and grow faster than normal cells.
⇒Chemo drugs target these fast-dividing cells, damaging their DNA or interfering with cell division.
⇒Unfortunately, some normal cells (like those in hair follicles, bone marrow, and the digestive system) also divide quickly, which causes side effects.
2. Goals of Chemotherapy
⇒Curative: To completely destroy cancer cells.
⇒Adjuvant: After surgery/radiation to kill any remaining cancer cells.
⇒Neoadjuvant: Before surgery/radiation to shrink tumors.
⇒Palliative: To relieve symptoms and improve quality of life in advanced cancer.
3. Types of Chemotherapy
⇒Alkylating agents (e.g., cyclophosphamide): damage DNA directly.
⇒Antimetabolites (e.g., methotrexate, 5-FU): interfere with DNA and RNA growth.
⇒Anti-tumor antibiotics (e.g., doxorubicin): change DNA inside cancer cells.
⇒Topoisomerase inhibitors (e.g., etoposide): affect enzymes that help copy DNA.
⇒Mitotic inhibitors (e.g., paclitaxel): stop cell division.
Some cancers are treated with combination chemotherapy (multiple drugs with different mechanisms) to improve effectiveness.
4. How It's Given
⇒Intravenous (IV): Most common, into a vein.
⇒Oral: Pills or capsules.
⇒Injection: Into muscle or under skin.
⇒Intrathecal: Into cerebrospinal fluid.
⇒Topical: As a cream for skin cancers.
5. Side Effects
Due to the impact on healthy cells, chemotherapy can cause:
⇒ Common side effects:
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Mouth sores
- Low blood counts (anemia, infection risk, bleeding)
⇒ Long-term side effects (depend on the drugs used):
- Heart or kidney damage
- Infertility
- Nerve damage (neuropathy)
- Risk of second cancers (rare)
Many side effects are temporary and manageable with medications and supportive care.
6. Treatment Cycles
⇒Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles (e.g., 1 week on, 3 weeks off) to allow the body to recover.
⇒The number of cycles depends on the type and stage of cancer, and response to treatment.
7. Monitoring and Follow-Up
⇒Regular blood tests are done to check blood counts and organ function.
⇒Scans (like CT, MRI, PET) assess how well the cancer is responding.
⇒Adjustments are made based on response and tolerance.
8. Combination with Other Treatments
⇒Often used with surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy.
⇒The order and combination depend on the cancer type and stage.
9. Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Can treat cancer throughout the body.
- Helps prevent recurrence.
- Often improves survival and quality of life.
- Cons:
- Side effects can be tough.
- May weaken the immune system.
- Not effective for all cancers.
10. Advances in Chemotherapy
⇒Targeted therapy: More precise drugs that attack cancer cells with less harm to normal cells.
⇒Immunotherapy: Boosts the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
⇒Personalized chemo: Matching drugs to genetic profiles of tumors.
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