How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Cancer cells are cells that are abnormal and keep dividing instead of dying like normal cells. Anti-cancer drugs will destroy cells or stop them from growing. The difference between radiation and chemotherapy is that radiation will usually focus on one area whereas chemotherapy is administered through the blood stream and travels throughout your body. This is effective for cases where the cancer could have spread beyond the point of origin.
Some chemotherapy drugs work alone and some work together. Where more than one is used, it is called "combination chemotherapy."
Chemotherapy is used depending on the cancer and the stage of the cancer. Chemotherapy can be used to cure cancer, prevent the cancer from spreading, slow the cancer's growth, or to kill cells that may have traveled from the original tumor to other parts of the body or just to relieve symptoms caused by cancer.
Sometimes chemotherapy is the only treatment a patient receives. In most cases though, chemotherapy is used in conjunction with either surgery and/or radiation therapy. Sometimes chemotherapy is given prior to surgery to help shrink the tumor and sometimes it is given afterwards to hopefully catch and kill any possible cells that have either spread or still remain at the site.
The type(s) of drugs you will receive will depend on what your physician feels is the best for your particular condition. Your physician will consider the size, the location, the extent of the growth, and your overall health and, with breast cancer, hormone receptors are a factor. There are literally hundreds of chemotherapy drugs and combinations. I couldn't possibly name them all. There are also a lot of clinical trials with chemotherapy that you can choose to be a part of. Please discuss this with your physician if you feel like this is something you would like to do.
Where you will receive chemotherapy treatments will depend on the type you are receiving and your physician's preferences. Most of the time the treatments are given as an outpatient basis at a hospital or in your physician's office. The length of treatment will depend on a lot of factors as well. You might receive the treatments on a daily basis, weekly basis or monthly basis. Typically, chemotherapy is given in an on-off cycle to allow your body to build healthy cells. If you experience problems during chemo, your physician might hold off to give your body a chance to regain strength and then restart. It is very important that you stay with your physician's schedule or they might not have the effect you need.
