Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer in which chemicals are used to destroy cancer cells in different parts of the body. It is used primarily to treat cancers that can¡¦t be removed surgically, or to destroy cancer cells that remain after surgery. Chemotherapy is given either by mouth or by injection into a vein or muscle. The length and frequency of therapy depends on the type of cancer, the type of drugs used and the body¡¦s response to them.

This type of treatment can be used:

• after an operation
• before an operation
• with advanced cancer
• with bone marrow transplants or stem cell support

Because anti-cancer drugs not only attack cancer cells but also healthy, normal cells, chemotherapy often causes side effects such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, diarrhea, low platelets, and low red and white blood cell counts.

Some chemotherapy drugs can be given to you on an outpatient basis and others may require that you stay overnight or for a few days in the hospital. Occasionally, chemotherapy treatments will require hospital stays for a few weeks or longer.

Side Effects

As a result of chemotherapy, patients may have side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, hair loss or mouth sores. For some patients, the doctor may prescribe medicine to help with side effects, especially with nausea and vomiting. Usually these side effects gradually go away during the recovery period or after treatment stops.

Hair loss, another side effect of chemotherapy, is a major concern for many patients. Some chemotherapy drugs only cause the hair to thin out, while others may result in the loss of all body hair. Patients may feel better if they decide how to handle hair loss before starting treatment.

For some men and women, chemotherapy drugs may cause changes that result in a loss of fertility (the ability to have children). Loss of fertility may be temporary or permanent depending on the drugs used and the patient¡¦s age. For men, sperm banking before treatment is an option. Women¡¦s menstrual periods may stop, and they may have hot flashes and vaginal dryness. However, periods are more likely to return in young women.