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James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cancer Care

While chemotherapy is effective in treating most types of cancer, there are some forms of the disease for which chemotherapy has not produced the desired results. For example, according to the American Cancer Society, chemotherapy is not effective against early prostate cancer. Although it may slow tumor growth and reduce pain, it has had limited success for the treatment of advanced disease.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. It may be used to:

  • Cure cancer
  • Control the growth or spread of cancer
  • Kill cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body from the original site
  • Provide comfort by alleviating symptoms

Chemotherapy is most often systemic (reaching all parts of the body) but there are instances where it is administered locally (directed to one part of the body).

  • Because systemic chemotherapy travels through the bloodstream to your entire body, it can destroy cancer cells that have spread from the original site.

  • Local (or regional) chemotherapy is used to inflict maximum damage to a specific tumor or lesion while minimizing side effects elsewhere.

Anemia: A Major Side Effect of Chemotherapy

Anemia is a side effect experienced by more than 50% of chemotherapy patients. People who have anemia don't have enough red blood cells and feel more tired and weaker than usual. More information

How Chemotherapy Works

Chemotherapy has its greatest effect on cells that grow and divide rapidly – like cancer. It can destroy the cells or keep them from multiplying.

Some of the healthy cells in the body may also be damaged, but most normal cells recover while cancer cells don’t. In fact, most normal cells begin to repair themselves just hours after a treatment. Damage to healthy cells, though temporary, may cause side effects in some people.

The job of the medical oncologist is to walk the fine line of maximizing the chemotherapy dose to the cancer while inimizing the dose to normal cells.

How Chemotherapy Is Given

Everyone's cancer is different, and so is the chemotherapy that’s given.

Treatment varies depending on the cancer’s:

  • Type
  • Location
  • Stage of development and spread
  • Response to chemotherapy and:
    • How it’s affecting you
    • Your sensitivity to the drugs
    • Your general health

There are different types of chemotherapy and many variations for how it’s given. These variations include: