Chemotherapy

The word chemotherapy sometimes stirs up strong emotions in newly diagnosed cancer patients; but in some cases, chemotherapy is the best method of treating widespread disease. And in other cases, chemotherapy has been a life saver. Chemotherapy drugs are used to treat systemic cancer for those whose cancers may have metastasized or are at high risk of metastasizing; and for cancers that effect blood or lymphatic systems. It is used for curative purposes, as a preventive for metastasize, and to slow tumor growth. It is a treatment regimen that sometimes produces toxic effects, but there are many adjunct medications in use today to help with these conditions.

This is an area of cancer treatment that is ever changing. Chemotherapeutic drugs are used independently, in combinations with other chemotherapy drugs, and in combination with other types of drugs; creating a complex variety of regimens. How they target the cancer cells for destruction is multi-faceted and rather complicated to the layman. I wouldn't begin to try to explain it with my limited knowledge. But, if you would like to read further, here are some good starting points:

Cancer Network - may answer some of your more technical questions.

American Cancer Society - part of their Making Treatment Decision series.

CancerHelp UK - general information about chemotherapy.

Cancer Therapies - overview of desired actions and the mechanisms of chemotherapeutic drugs.

National Library of Medicine - explains all aspects of this treatment.

Oncology Channel - overview of chemotherapy and list of side effects, by drug.

Royal Marsden Hospital - extensive information on chemotherapy. Click the list of questions.

Chemoembolization

One relatively new aspect in the area of chemotherapy drugs are some advances in delivery of the drugs. One such advance is chemoembolization. Chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into the center of the tumor site. Then the artery flow is blocked by infusing particles into the blood vessels supplying the tumor. This, in essence, locks the chemotherapy drugs inside the tumor. This type of procedure is used on liver cancers. Another advance, designed at MD Anderson in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine, is an aerosol delivery system; which shows promise. Read more about these procedures here:

Interventional Radiology - information about chemoembolization.

Nature Publishing Group - original article of research results.

View these books at Amazon:

57 Good Things About Chemotherapy by Alec Kalla

Cancer Chemotherapy Care Plans Handbook by M Barton-Burke, GM Wukjes, K Ingwersn, B Sarter

Coping With Chemotherapy by Nancy Bruning

Exercises for Chemotherapy Patients by Harry Raftopolous

Health Journeys for People Undergoing Chemotherapy by Belleruth Naparstek

The Journey to Recovery: A Complete Guide to Chemotherapy by Margot Joan Fromer

Where Have My Eyebrows Gone? by Maureen C. McCutcheon, Kelly McCutcheon