Chemotherapy
(also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill
cancer cells.
ON THIS PAGE
How Chemotherapy Works against Cancer
Which Types of Cancer Does Chemotherapy Treat
How Chemotherapy Is Used with Other Cancer Treatments
Chemotherapy Can Cause Side Effects
How Much Chemotherapy Costs
What to Expect When Receiving Chemotherapy
Special Diet Needs
Working during Chemotherapy
How Chemotherapy Works against Cancer
Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide
quickly. Chemotherapy is used to:
Treat cancer
Chemotherapy can be used to cure cancer, lessen the chance it will return, or stop or
slow its growth.
Ease cancer symptoms
Chemotherapy can be used to shrink tumors that are causing pain and other
problems.
Which Types of Cancer Does Chemotherapy Treat
Chemotherapy is used to treat many types of cancer. For some people, chemotherapy may be the
only treatment you receive. But most often, you will have chemotherapy and other cancer
treatments. The types of treatment that you need depend on the type of cancer you have, if it has
spread and where, and if you have other health problems.
How Chemotherapy Is Used with Other Cancer Treatments
When used with other treatments, chemotherapy can:
Make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neoadjuvant
chemotherapy.
Destroy cancer cells that may remain after treatment with surgery or radiation
therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
Help other treatments work better.
Kill cancer cells that have returned or spread to other parts of your body.
Chemotherapy Can Cause Side Effects
Chemotherapy not only kills fast-growing cancer cells, but also kills or slows the growth of
healthy cells that grow and divide quickly. Examples are cells that line your mouth
and intestines and those that cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side
effects, such as mouth sores, nausea, and hair loss. Side effects often get better or go away after
you have finished chemotherapy.
The most common side effect is fatigue, which is feeling exhausted and worn out. You can
prepare for fatigue by:
asking someone to drive you to and from chemotherapy
planning time to rest on the day of and day after chemotherapy
asking for help with meals and childcare on the day of and at least one day after
chemotherapy
There are many ways you can help manage chemotherapy side effects. For more information, see
the section on side effects.
How Much Chemotherapy Costs
The cost of chemotherapy depends on:
the types and doses of chemotherapy used
how long and how often chemotherapy is given
whether you get chemotherapy at home, in a clinic or office, or during a hospital stay
the part of the country where you live
Talk with your health insurance company about what services it will pay for. Most insurance
plans pay for chemotherapy. To learn more, talk with the business office where you go for
treatment.
If you need financial assistance, there are organizations that may be able to help. To find such
organizations, go to the National Cancer Institute database Organizations that Offer Support
Services and search for "financial assistance." Or call toll-free 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-
6237) to ask for information on organizations that may help.
What to Expect When Receiving Chemotherapy
How Chemotherapy Is Given
Chemotherapy may be given in many ways. Some common ways include:
Oral
chemotherapy comes in pills, capsules, or liquids that you swallow
Intravenous (IV)
chemotherapy goes directly into a vein
Injection
chemotherapy is given by a shot in a muscle in your arm, thigh, or hip, or right under
the skin in the fatty part of your arm, leg, or belly
Intrathecal
chemotherapy is injected into the space between the layers of tissue that cover the
brain and spinal cord
Intraperitoneal (IP)
chemotherapy goes directly into the peritoneal cavity, which is the area in your body
that contains organs such as your intestines, stomach, and liver
Intra-arterial (IA)
chemotherapy is injected directly into the artery that leads to the cancer
Topical
chemotherapy comes in a cream that you rub onto your skin
Chemotherapy is often given through a thin needle that is placed in a vein on your hand or lower
arm. Your nurse will put the needle in at the start of each treatment and remove it when
treatment is over. IV chemotherapy may also be given through catheters or ports, sometimes with
the help of a pump.
Catheter
A catheter is a thin, soft tube. A doctor or nurse places one end of the catheter in a
large vein, often in your chest area. The other end of the catheter stays outside your
body. Most catheters stay in place until you have finished your chemotherapy
treatments. Catheters can also be used to give you other drugs and to draw blood. Be
sure to watch for signs of infection around your catheter. See the section
about infection for more information.
Port
A port is a small, round disc that is placed under your skin during minor surgery.
A surgeon puts it in place before you begin your course of treatment, and it remains
there until you have finished. A catheter connects the port to a large vein, most often
in your chest. Your nurse can insert a needle into your port to give you chemotherapy
or draw blood. This needle can be left in place for chemotherapy treatments that are
given for longer than one day. Be sure to watch for signs of infection around your
port. See the section about infection for more information.
Pump
Pumps are often attached to catheters or ports. They control how much and how fast
chemotherapy goes into a catheter or port, allowing you to receive your
chemotherapy outside of the hospital. Pumps can be internal or external. External
pumps remain outside your body. Internal pumps are placed under your skin during
surgery.
How Your Doctor Decides Which Chemotherapy Drugs to Give You
There are many different chemotherapy drugs. Which ones are included in your treatment plan
depends mostly on:
the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is
whether you have had chemotherapy before
whether you have other health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease
Where You Go for Chemotherapy
You may receive chemotherapy during a hospital stay, at home, or as an outpatient at a doctor’s
office, clinic, or hospital. Outpatient means you do not stay overnight. No matter where you go
for chemotherapy, your doctor and nurse will watch for side effects and help you manage them.
For more information on side effects and how to manage them, see the section on side effects.
How Often You Receive Chemotherapy
Treatment schedules for chemotherapy vary widely. How often and how long you get
chemotherapy depends on:
your type of cancer and how advanced it is
whether chemotherapy is used to:
o cure your cancer
o control cancer's growth
o ease symptoms
the type of chemotherapy you are getting
how your body responds to the chemotherapy
You may receive chemotherapy in cycles. A cycle is a period of chemotherapy treatment
followed by a period of rest. For instance, you might receive chemotherapy every day for 1 week
followed by 3 weeks with no chemotherapy. These 4 weeks make up one cycle. The rest period
gives your body a chance to recover and build new healthy cells.
Missing a Chemotherapy Treatment
It is best not to skip a chemotherapy treatment. But, sometimes your doctor may change your
chemotherapy schedule if you are having certain side effects. If this happens, your doctor or
nurse will explain what to do and when to start treatment again.
How Chemotherapy May Affect You
Chemotherapy affects people in different ways. How you feel depends on:
the type of chemotherapy you are getting
the dose of chemotherapy you are getting
your type of cancer
how advanced your cancer is
how healthy you are before treatment
Since everyone is different and people respond to chemotherapy in different ways, your doctor
and nurses cannot know for sure how you will feel during chemotherapy.
How Will I Know If My Chemotherapy Is Working?
You will see your doctor often. During these visits, she will ask you how you feel, do a physical
exam, and order medical tests and scans. Tests might include blood tests. Scans might
include MRI, CT, or PET scans.
You cannot tell if chemotherapy is working based on its side effects. Some people think that
severe side effects mean that chemotherapy is working well, or that no side effects mean that
chemotherapy is not working. The truth is that side effects have nothing to do with how well
chemotherapy is fighting your cancer.
Special Diet Needs
Chemotherapy can damage the healthy cells that line your mouth and intestines and cause eating
problems. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have trouble eating while you are receiving
chemotherapy. You might also find it helpful to speak with a dietitian. For more information
about coping with eating problems see the booklet Eating Hints or the section on side effects.
Working during Chemotherapy
Many people can work during chemotherapy, as long as they match their work schedule to how
they feel. Whether or not you can work may depend on what kind of job you have. If your job
allows, you may want to see if you can work part-time or from home on days you do not feel
well.
Many employers are required by law to change your work schedule to meet your needs during
cancer treatment. Talk with your employer about ways to adjust your work during chemotherapy.
You can learn more about these laws by talking with a social worker.
