X

We detected that you're visiting our site from the UK. Would you like to visit the ChaCha UK website?

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy or Chemo is a cancer treatment which uses chemicals to fight and kill cancer cells. It comes in different forms and can be taken intravenously or orally in a pill form depending on the type and dose needed. Chemo therapy is often invasive and causes serious side effects. It sets out to kill cancer cells but also kills good cells along the way. It cannot determine the good cells from the bad. It must be given in doses because one big dose can actually be fatal.

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for Chemotherapy

In the Last:
Day | Week | Month

  1. What happens in chemotherapy?

    Chemotherapy gets rid of any cancer cells that may have sprea...

  2. Does chemotherapy hurt?

    Getting chemotherapy doesn't hurt. It generally feels the sam...

  3. How many days a week do they do chemotherapy?

    You can receive chemotherapy every day, every week or every m...

  4. Can chemotherapy be a bad thing for future pregnancies?

    There is an increased risk for molar pregnancies, but overall...

  5. What is the most common chemotherapy treated for ovarian cancer?

    The intraperitoneal (into the abdomen) method for delivery of...

  1. What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

    Common side effects of chemotherapy:nausea and vomiting hair ...

  2. How does chemotherapy kill cancer cells?

    Radiation damages the genes of a cancer cell so that it canno...

  3. Can you have Chemotherapy withdrawals?

    Any withdrawal symptoms a chemotherapy patient may experience...

  4. What happens in chemotherapy?

    Chemotherapy gets rid of any cancer cells that may have sprea...

  5. Can a dialysis patient and a chemotherapy patient live together?

    I haven't found any evidence that a person receiving dialysis...

  1. What happens in chemotherapy?

    Chemotherapy gets rid of any cancer cells that may have sprea...

  2. Does chemotherapy hurt?

    Getting chemotherapy doesn't hurt. It generally feels the sam...

  3. What is chop chemotherapy?

    CHOP is an abbreviated name for a combination of drugs used i...

  4. Can chemotherapy be a bad thing for future pregnancies?

    There is an increased risk for molar pregnancies, but overall...

  5. Can chemotherapy cause pancreas problems?

    Getting Pancreatitis is possible as some cancer patients have...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for Chemotherapy

In the Last:
Week | Month

  1. When do you lose your hair in chemotherapy?

    Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapid...

  2. Why does chemotherapy hurt so much?

    Getting chemotherapy by mouth, on the skin, or by injection g...

  3. If a girl has cancer then gets chemotherapy and lives can she have babies?

    Though there are a few exceptions, many women can successfull...

  4. How long does chemotherapy take?

    How often and how long you get chemotherapy depends on the ki...

  5. How is chemotherapy done?

    When chemotherapy drugs attack reproducing cells, they cannot...

  1. Why does chemotherapy hurt so much?

    Getting chemotherapy by mouth, on the skin, or by injection g...

  2. What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

    Common side effects of chemotherapy:nausea and vomiting hair ...

  3. What is chemotherapy?

    Chemotherapy:1:the use of chemical agents to treat or control...

  4. How does chemotherapy for leukemia work?

    Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals...

  5. What is the difference between chemotherapy and radiation?

    Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals that have a specific tox...

About Chemotherapy

Chemo is used as a cure for cancer; in some cases it destroys all cancer cells in the body and it does not return, making the patient cancer free. It is also used to slow the spread of cancer; some cases of cancer cannot be killed completely and it stops the spreading and prolongs the life of the patient. It is also used in pain management to reduce the size of tumors to ease the pain suffered by the patient. It is also used to assist before and after surgery and during radiation treatments.

Chemotherapy can be given in different ways. Medicinenet.com states that it can be given by:

Injection. The chemotherapy is given by a shot in a muscle in your arm, thigh, or hip or right under the skin in the fatty part of your arm, leg, or belly.
Intra-arterial (IA). The chemotherapy goes directly into the artery that is feeding the cancer.
Intraperitoneal (IP). The chemotherapy goes directly into the peritoneal cavity (the area that contains organs such as your intestines, stomach, liver, and ovaries).
Intravenous (IV). The chemotherapy goes directly into a vein.
Topically. The chemotherapy comes in a cream that you rub onto your skin.
Orally. The chemotherapy comes in pills, capsules, or liquids that you swallow.

Chemotherapy.com states that side effects from chemotherapy can include pain, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, as well as blood-related side effects. In this section, you can learn more about the importance of diagnosing and monitoring blood-related side effects. These may include low infection fighting white blood cells count (neutropenia), low red blood cells count (anemia), and low platelets count (thrombocytopenia). For a complete list of side effects please visit chemotherapy.com.

Created by LovesChaCha

Related Images

See all images »

Brazilian former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) arrives at the Sirio-Lebanese hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to begin chemotherapy treatment for his larynx cancer on October 31, 2011 just days after his condition was diagnosed. Accompanied by his wife Marisa Leticia, the Brazilian leader skirted dozens of journalists who had gathered at the door of the hospital awaiting his arrival. One day earlier, doctors told reporters that Lula was ready to commence with his treatment, despite having only last week received his cancer diagnosis.

Recent Chemotherapy Questions

PREV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... NEXT
2,487 Answers
Advertisement
›
›
›
›
Chemotherapy