CHEMOTHERAPY

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy either kills cancer cells or stops their ability to multiply. In the same way that different bacteria are sensitive to different antibiotics, different cancers are sensitive to different types of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy reaches the cancer cells through the blood stream and destroys cancer cells as they are in a multiplying phase. Not all cancer cells will be in a multiplying phase, some will be in a resting phase, and chemotherapy is unable to destroy them. However, over the next few months, as you have subsequent cycles of chemotherapy, the cancer cells that were resting will start to multiply. This is why you need to have many cycles of chemotherapy over several months. As the number of cancer cells reduces, the natural defense mechanisms of your body also play their part in destroying cancer cells.

How is chemotherapy given?

Introduction

How does it work?

How is it given?

What are the side effects?

What can I / can't I do?

What if the chemotherapy does not work?

What happens when my treatment is complete?

Specific Treatments

Other resources