Chemotherapy drugs that you have in these ways circulate all around the body in the bloodstream. They can reach cancer cells almost anywhere in the body. Examples of cancers where chemotherapy works very well are testicular cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma. With some cancers, chemotherapy can't cure the cancer on its own.
But it can help in combination with other types of treatment. For example, many people with breast or bowel cancer have chemotherapy after surgery to help lower the risk of the cancer coming back. Remission is a word doctors often use when talking about cancer. It means that after treatment there is no sign of the cancer.
This means that the cancer can't be detected on scans, x-rays, blood tests or other tests. Doctors sometimes call this a complete response or they might say there is no evidence of disease. This means the treatment has killed some of the cells, but not all.
The cancer has shrunk, but can still be seen on scans and doesn't appear to be growing. The treatment might have stopped the cancer from growing. Or the treatment could have made the cancer smaller so that other treatments are more likely to help, such as surgery or radiotherapy.
This is sometimes called a partial response. Another term doctors use is stable disease. This can mean that the cancer has stayed the same size or it might even have grown by a small amount. Chemotherapy is anti cancer drug treatment. Find out about when you might have it, how you have it and possible side effects. There are many different types of cancer drugs. Some treat cancer and others help to relieve symptoms such as sickness and pain.
There are three main goals for chemotherapy chemo in cancer treatment:. If a cure is not possible, the goal of cancer treatment may be to control the disease. This can help the person with cancer feel better and live longer. Chemo can also be used to ease symptoms caused by the cancer. This is called palliation , palliative chemotherapy, or treatment with palliative intent. When the cancer is at an advanced stage, probably cannot be controlled, and has spread, the goal of giving chemo may be to improve the quality of life or help the person feel better.
For example, anti-nausea treatments or pain medicines are palliative, and can be used at all stages of treatment. You and your cancer doctor oncologist will decide what drug or combination of drugs you will get. All of these decisions will depend on the type of cancer, where it is, how big it is, if it's spread to other parts of the body, and how it affects your normal body functions and overall health.
Cancer can be treated with a single chemo drug, but often several drugs are used together. They may be given in a certain order or in certain combinations called combination chemotherapy. Different drugs that work in different ways can work together to kill more cancer cells. This can also help lower the chance that the cancer may become resistant to any one chemo drug. Sometimes chemo is the only treatment you need.
More often, chemo is used with surgery or radiation therapy or both. And it's sometimes used with other drugs, such as targeted therapy, hormone therapy, or immunotherapy. For example, chemo may be used In some cases, the best choice of doses and schedules for each chemo drug is clearly known and based on research studies.
They also may be able to suggest ways to reduce any pain and discomfort you have. Here are some of the more common side effects caused by chemotherapy:.
Learn more about these and other problems in Managing Cancer-related Side Effects. When looking at how best to combine chemo drugs, doctors must look at interactions between chemo drugs and other medicines the person is taking, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. These interactions may make side effects worse and affect how well chemo drugs work. For instance, platelets help blood clot and prevent bleeding.
Many chemo drugs lower the number of platelets for a time. Taking aspirin or other related drugs can also weaken blood platelets. Your doctor can talk with you about the safety of using other medicines, vitamins, and supplements while you are being treated for cancer. Many people want to take an active role in improving their overall health.
But some vitamins might make chemo less effective.
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