Chemotherapy is medicine used to treat cancer. Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination with other drugs, surgery, or radiation.

Chemotherapy can be used to:

• Kill cancer cells
• Stop cancer from spreading
• Slow the cancer’s growth
• Make the cancer smaller so that surgery can be done or be more effective
• Relieve pain and other symptoms that may be caused by the cancer

It can be administered in a few different ways, including:

• Intravenously (IV) – directly into your blood through a vein
• Intramuscularly (IM) – injected into a muscle
• Subcutaneously (SC) – injected just under the skin
• Topically – applied to the skin
• Orally – taken by mouth (liquid, tablet, or capsule) in clinic or at home

Chemotherapy can be used at different points during cancer treatment. Some patients are only treated with chemotherapy, while others may receive chemotherapy before and/or after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, or as an adjuvant treatment to another therapy. Some cancers are treated with newer therapies, and do not involve chemotherapy at all.

Patients fear chemotherapy for its widely-known side effects but they should be aware of its effectiveness in treating cancer. These side effects occur because chemotherapy kills fast-growing and fast-dividing cells, which includes cancer cells, but also includes healthy cells that have high rates of growth and division, such as cells of the hair follicle, skin, and those lining the digestive tract.

As a result, the following common side effects may occur:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Skin dryness
• Fatigue

People experience side effects with varying levels of severity during their chemotherapy treatment. The following information will help people to manage these side effects very effectively.

Dietary changes can help mitigate digestive issues such as nausea and diarrhea. A nutritionist can be consulted to ensure patients maximize healthy calories and keep hydrated in light of a reduced appetite. Your care team can also recommend medications to alleviate nausea.

Mouth and throat sores can be painful, but good oral health care – including brushing teeth before and after each meal – can help prevent worsening sores or infection. Your cancer care team may prescribe oral rinses, too. Ideally, you should also see a dentist before beginning a chemotherapy regimen so they can identify any conditions in the mouth that need to be taken care of before you begin treatment.

Hair loss in one of the better-known side effects of chemotherapy, but for many people, the drug only causes hair thinning. A new and novel approach to preventing hair loss from some chemotherapy regimens is called scalp cooling, which involves the use of a cool, tight cap that is placed on the head and worn before, during, and after each chemotherapy session. Liquid coolant circulates through the cap, reducing blood flow to cells that produce hair, with the goal of protecting them from the chemotherapy.

To combat fatigue, it is important to keep moving. Aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, biking, or running, tend to be the most beneficial for cancer patients. Activities such as yoga and stretching, and even resistance training with weights, can be beneficial as well. Always check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise plans.

Researchers are also developing new therapies to reduce the typical side effects of chemotherapy. Targeted therapies differ from standard chemotherapy because they involve drugs which are engineered to attack only cells with a certain molecular target caused by the cancer. Since these drugs can kill cells more specifically, fewer healthy cells die in the process, which can greatly reduce the side effects a patient will endure. Many clinical trials are underway to evaluate these new targeted therapies for the treatment of a number of cancer types.