Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, often called ‘chemo’, uses specially developed drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. These drugs, known as cytotoxics (meaning toxic to cells), can be made from natural sources like plants or created in laboratories. Depending on the type of cancer and its stage, chemotherapy can involve a single drug or be used alongside other treatments like surgery or radiation therapy, either before or after these procedures.

Chemotherapy works by targeting and damaging cells that divide rapidly, including cancer cells, using powerful chemotherapeutic agents such as drugs. However, it can also affect normal cells that divide quickly, such as blood cells, hair follicles, and cells in the mouth, bowel, and reproductive organs. When these normal cells are affected, side effects may occur.

Everyone responds differently to chemotherapy, and not everyone experiences all side effects.

Common side effects of chemotherapeutic agents include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and changes to skin or nails. You might also notice appetite changes, mouth sores, or an increased risk of infections and bruising.

As the body is constantly renewing its cells, most side effects are temporary, and advances in chemotherapy drugs are continually helping to improve outcomes and minimise side effects.

Your medical team will work with you to minimise your discomfort to maintain quality of life throughout treatment.

Chemotherapy works by targeting cells that divide quickly, which is how cancer cells grow and spread. Most chemotherapy drugs travel through the bloodstream and body to target rapidly dividing cancer cells in the organs and tissues. This is known as systemic treatment. In some cases, chemotherapy is delivered directly to the cancer site, called local chemotherapy.

By interrupting the division process, chemotherapy aims to slow or stop cancer growth and reduce its spread.

Chemotherapy treatment is used for various reasons, depending on the type and stage of cancer and your overall care plan.

• To achieve remission or cure – For some people, chemotherapy can cure cancer by destroying all the cancer cells in the body.
• To stop cancer coming back – Chemotherapy may be given after surgery or radiation therapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and reduce the chance of the cancer returning. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy or preventive chemotherapy.
• Support other treatments – In some cases chemotherapy may be given before surgery or radiation to shrink the cancer, helping to make these treatments more effective. This is known as neoadjuvant therapy.
• To control cancer – For cancers that cannot be cured, chemotherapy can still play an important role in controlling the disease, slowing its growth, and preventing it from spreading further. This is often referred to as palliative chemotherapy, which can also help relieve painful symptoms caused by cancer and improve quality of life

Your medical team will devise a plan for the types of chemotherapy best for you.

Your treatment team can deliver chemotherapy in several ways, depending on what’s most appropriate for your situation. Chemotherapy treatment is mostly given through a vein (intravenously), but can also be given as tablets or capsules, as a cream, or through an injection.

Each method is carefully chosen to give you the best possible outcome for your circumstances

Chemotherapy itself typically doesn’t hurt, but the process of delivering it can involve some minor discomfort. If your treatment involves a needle in a vein, like when giving blood, you might feel a quick pinch during the insertion. For those with a temporary cannula in the hand or arm, only the initial injection might feel uncomfortable. If you have a central venous access device, like a port or catheter, the procedure is usually painless.

Occasionally, certain chemotherapy drugs can irritate the veins, causing inflammation (phlebitis), which may result in soreness for a few days. If you feel pain or a burning sensation during the injection, tell your nurse immediately. If you notice tenderness or discomfort at the injection site after treatment, contact your chemotherapy team right away.

The length of your treatment plan will depend on the type of cancer you have, how it generally responds to treatment, and your ability to tolerate treatment. Typically, a chemotherapy program is between 3-6 months, but for some people it may be shorter or longer.

You usually have several treatment cycles, with rest periods to give your body time to recover.

In some cases, chemotherapy may continue for months or even years. This is called maintenance chemotherapy, which aims to prevent the cancer from coming back, or palliative chemotherapy, which helps control the cancer and relieve symptoms.

If you feel upset or anxious about how long treatment is taking or the impact of side effects, talk to your treatment team.