What is chemotherapy for and what are the side effects?

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. Here are some important aspects of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, because cancer cells divide faster than most normal cells in the body. This helps to slow or stop the growth and spread of cancer. Because the drugs circulate throughout the body, chemotherapy can also target cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body (metastases).

Administration can be done via an infusion, in the form of pills, by injections or via creams or ointments. Chemotherapy is often given in cycles, with periods of treatment alternating with periods of rest. This helps the body recover between treatments.

Chemotherapy also has a number of side effects such as hair loss, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, anemia, bleeding tendency, painful inflammation and ulcers in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and finally nerve damage which can lead to pain, tingling or numbness, usually in the hands and feet .

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-09-29 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024