Chemotherapy is a method of treating cancer. Cancerous tumors are made up of cells that divide rapidly. This is how they grow and invade normal tissue. Chemotherapy uses different chemicals to kill or prevent further growth of cancer cells.

The chemotherapy drugs may be used by themselves or combined with others. There are many ways to give the drugs. The drugs may be given by mouth, by injection, or intravenous infusions. These treatments can be self-administered and last from as little as ten minutes, to several hours, to even a few days. A portable pump is now available so that the prescribed dosage of medicine may be given over a certain period of time. A hospital stay is no longer necessary in most cases. Chemotherapy may be required weekly, monthly, or by other time schedules depending on the kind of cancer a person has. Therapy can last from several weeks to several months.

Sometimes chemotherapy may cause unpleasant symptoms called side effects. These depend on the kinds of drugs given. Common side effects include:
* nausea and vomiting,
* diarrhea,
* hair loss,
* lowered blood counts that make you more likely to get an infection or to bleed more easily,
* fatigue,
* tingling and numbness in your fingers and toes, or
* sores in your mouth.

Your healthcare provider will watch you very closely for these side effects. Many options are available to help you manage the symptoms. If your side effects become severe, your provider might lower your dose or postpone your treatment. In extreme cases, your treatment might be discontinued. If you become very ill with side effects, you might have to go into the hospital. Sometimes hospitalization is required if you expect extreme side effects from your treatment.

Chemotherapy can be just one part of your treatment. Other therapies might include radiation therapy or surgery. To learn more about chemotherapy, call the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345 or the National Cancer Institute at (800) 4-CANCER.

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