Chemotherapy for Cancer Treatment: Uses, Side Effects, and Preparation Tips

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment in which drugs are used to kill or stop the growth of cancerous cells. It’s effective at this goal, but since it targets any quick-dividing cell, it can affect non-cancerous cells as well. As a result of this systemic treatment, side effects can arise.

Despite the possibility of side effects, chemotherapy is a powerful addition to cancer treatment and is often used alongside other treatments to strengthen the odds of survival. Explore how chemotherapy assists other treatments, why it may be used, and how you can prepare for its side effects.

Why Is Chemotherapy Considered?

There are two reasons why chemotherapy may be a part of someone’s cancer treatment plan.

First, chemotherapy may be the primary mode of treatment for cancer e.g. leukemias or blood cancers. It can help to control cancerous cells or tissues, lessen the odds of its return, or slow/stop its growth.

However, chemotherapy may also be initiated in order to ease the burden of the disease. Specifically, as tumours (collections of cancerous cells) grow in size, they are more likely to cause pressure, pain or other unpleasant symptoms. Chemotherapy can help shrink tumours, easing the associated symptoms.

Chemotherapy differs from other types of cancer treatment in that it is a systemic treatment. It is administered mostly intravenously directly to the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body, rather than targeting just one area. This is most beneficial in killing cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. It is also useful for blood cancers, since they do not form solid tumours and instead spread throughout the circulatory system.

Chemotherapy as Part of a Cancer Treatment Plan

Chemotherapy is part of the armamentarium of cancer treatment. In some cases, it may be the only option, but more often than not, chemotherapy is used alongside other treatment modalities. Which cancer treatments make up your treatment plan, however, will depend on the type of cancer you have, its progression or stage, and whether you have any other health problems.

Some of the ways in which chemotherapy may be used with another cancer treatment include:

• Destroying any cancer cells that remain following cancer surgery
• Making a tumour smaller before radiation therapy or surgery (neo-adjuvant therapy)
• Killing cancer cells that have returned or spread to other parts of the body
• Enhancing the effectiveness of other treatments

Chemotherapy disrupts the cell cycle, with the part of the cell cycle (growing, copying DNA, dividing to form new cells) that is affected depending on the type of chemotherapeutic agent administered. Since different types of chemotherapy regimen affect different phases of the cell cycle, some types of chemotherapy are more effective with certain types of cancer.

How Is Chemotherapy Administered?

There are many modalities through which chemotherapy may be administered, including:

• Intravenous (IV) or Parenteral: directly into a vein
• Orally or Enterally: through pills, liquids, or capsules that are swallowed/given by mouth or through feeding tubes
• Intraperitoneal (IP): directly infused into the peritoneal cavity, which is the part of your body that houses the major organs of the abdomen - intestines, stomach, spleen, and liver
• Intrathecal: injected into the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF)-filled space between the tissue layers that cover the spinal cord and brain
• Topical: an ointment, gel, lotion, cream or transdermal patch that is applied on the skin where the drug will be absorbed
• Intra-arterial (IA): injected directly into the artery that feeds the cancerous tissue.

As for the different types of chemotherapy drugs, your doctor will tailor the treatment regimen based on the type of cancer, how advanced it is, whether you have had chemotherapy before, and whether you have other health problems (such as heart disease or diabetes). Similarly, the type and stage of the cancer, the goal of chemotherapy, the type of chemotherapy, and your body’s response to treatment will dictate how often you receive chemotherapy.

In some cases, chemotherapy is administered in cycles. For instance, you may receive chemotherapy every day for a week but then have three weeks of no chemotherapy. These four weeks then make up a cycle. The purpose of these rest periods is to give the body a chance to recover and grow healthy cells.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Unfortunately, while chemotherapy is a powerful cancer-fighting treatment, it can also cause considerable side effects.

Some of these side effects arise because chemotherapy does not only target cancer cells; it targets any fast-growing cell, which can include healthy cells that grow and divide quickly, such as the cells that line your mouth and intestines and the cells that cause your hair to grow. This is why chemotherapy can cause people to lose their hair or develop mouth sores and nausea.

Yet another common side effect of chemotherapy is fatigue, which often results from the damage to healthy cells, especially bone marrow cells, from chemotherapy. Since bone marrow cells produce red blood cells (the main oxygen carrying cells in the body), damage to these can cause anaemia with resultant fatigue as a consequence of inadequate tissue oxygenation.

Typically, these side effects go away once chemotherapy is discontinued or finished.

Preparing for Chemotherapy

Knowing as much as you can about chemotherapy is a great first step, and the following are more useful tips as you prepare to receive treatment:

• Learn about the potential side effects. Exploring the common side effects of the type of chemotherapy you will receive can help you anticipate them, potentially mitigating the impact. For instance, if fatigue is common, you can make preparations to lessen your workload or tasks.
• Make arrangements at work. When you begin chemotherapy, you may need a modified work schedule. For most employed, scheduling of sick leave or time off for chemo sessions is the most practicable while for others, switching to a remote setup may be an option. You can also discuss with your oncologist how chemotherapy may impact your ability to do your job and then make arrangements with your employer based on this information.
• Plan your treatment routine. Ask your oncologist what the treatment will entail, the environment, and how long it will take. Then, use this information to make plans for the treatment sessions, such as bringing forms of entertainment to pass the time, packing lunch or snacks, or arranging transportation.
  
  

Understanding Chemotherapy for Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy is a common mode of treatment for cancer. It is as a systemic treatment that affects both the cancer and non-cancer cells in the body. There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs and means of delivery to the body. Both of these factors are typically dependent on the type of cancer, its progression, and what other health conditions you have.

When undergoing chemotherapy, knowledge can make all the difference in easing concerns and minimizing side effects. Talk to your oncologist about what to expect, the accommodations you’ll need for work, and what other treatments chemotherapy may be used alongside.

References

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