Cancer Chemotherapy

Cancer Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a common and powerful type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The goal of chemotherapy is to cure the cancer, slow its growth, or ease its symptoms.

How Chemotherapy Works

Chemotherapy drugs work by targeting and killing fast-growing cells. Since cancer cells grow and divide much more rapidly than most healthy cells, they are more susceptible to the effects of chemotherapy. The drugs damage the genes inside the cancer cells, or interfere with the chemical processes involved in cell division, ultimately preventing the cells from multiplying.

Chemotherapy is often given in cycles, which means a period of treatment is followed by a period of rest to allow the body to recover. It can be used alone or in combination with other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy.

Types of Chemotherapy Drugs

Chemotherapy drugs are categorized into several groups based on their mechanism of action. Some of the main types include:

• Alkylating agents: These drugs damage a cell's DNA to prevent it from replicating. They are effective at all stages of the cell cycle.

• Antimetabolites: These drugs mimic building blocks of DNA and RNA, causing the cells to use the drugs instead of the real building blocks. This prevents the cells from creating new, functional DNA and RNA, leading to cell death.

• Antitumor antibiotics: These are not the same as antibiotics for infections. They work by changing the DNA inside cancer cells to keep them from growing and multiplying.

• Topoisomerase inhibitors: These drugs block enzymes that are necessary for the unwinding and copying of DNA, which is a crucial step in cell division.

• Mitotic inhibitors: These are often derived from natural products like plants and work by stopping cells from dividing to form new cells.

Administration of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can be administered in several ways, including:

• Intravenous (IV) infusion: The drugs are delivered directly into a vein. This is one of the most common methods.

• Oral: The drugs are taken by mouth in the form of pills, capsules, or liquids.

• Injection: The drugs are given as a shot into a muscle or under the skin.

• Topical: A cream or gel containing the chemotherapy drug is applied to the skin, typically for certain types of skin cancer.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Because chemotherapy drugs can also affect some of the body's healthy, fast-growing cells (such as those in the bone marrow, hair follicles, and digestive system), they can cause a range of side effects. Most of these side effects are temporary and disappear after treatment is complete. Common side effects include:

• Fatigue: Feeling tired and lacking energy.

• Nausea and vomiting: An upset stomach, which can often be managed with anti-nausea medications.

• Hair loss: Chemotherapy can cause hair to fall out from the scalp and other parts of the body.

• Mouth sores: Inflammation and sores in the mouth and throat.

• Low blood cell counts: This can lead to an increased risk of infection (due to low white blood cells), anemia (due to low red blood cells), and easy bruising or bleeding (due to low platelets).

• "Chemobrain": Difficulty with memory, concentration, and thinking.

• Neuropathy: Nerve damage that can cause tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet.