Chemotherapy
Also known as: chemo, cytotoxic therapy
Drug treatment that kills cancer cells throughout the body.
Definition
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that travel through the bloodstream to reach and kill cancer cells wherever they are. Because it works system-wide, it is the mainstay of treatment for cancers that have spread (metastasised) and for blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Chemotherapy is delivered in cycles, with rest periods in between to let healthy tissues recover. It can be given as neoadjuvant therapy (before surgery), adjuvant therapy (after surgery), alone, or in combination with radiation as chemoradiation. Modern antiemetics and supportive care make today's chemotherapy far more tolerable than it was a generation ago. Learn more on the chemotherapy service page.
See also
- Adjuvant Therapy — Additional treatment given after surgery to lower the risk of cancer coming back.
- Neoadjuvant Therapy — Treatment given before the main therapy (usually surgery) to shrink the tumour first.
- Antiemetic — A medicine that prevents or controls nausea and vomiting.
- Neutropenia — A low neutrophil count that increases the risk of serious infection during chemotherapy.
- Protocol — A standardised plan that specifies the drugs, doses and schedule for a course of cancer treatment.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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