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Q: What is chemotherapy?
A: Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer
with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs are
often called "anticancer" drugs.
Q: What can chemotherapy do?
A: Depending on the type of cancer and how
advanced it is, chemotherapy can be used for different goals:
- To cure the cancer. Cancer is considered
cured when the patient remains free of evidence of cancer
cells.
- To control the cancer. This is done by keeping
the cancer from spreading; slowing the cancer's growth;
and killing cancer cells that may have spread to other parts
of the body from the original tumor.
- To relieve symptoms that the cancer may cause.
Relieving symptoms such as pain can help patients live more
comfortably.
Q: Is chemotherapy used with other treatments?
A: Sometimes chemotherapy is the only treatment
a patient receives. More often, however, chemotherapy is used
in addition to surgery, radiation therapy and/or biological
therapy.
Q: What drugs are given?
A: Some chemotherapy drugs are used for many
different types of cancer, while others might be used for
just one or two types of cancer. Your doctor recommends a
treatment plan. |
