Normally, your cells grow and die in a controlled way. Cancer cells keep forming without control. Chemotherapy is drug therapy that can stop these cells from multiplying. However, it can also harm healthy cells, which causes side effects.
During chemotherapy you may have no side effects or just a few. The kinds of side effects you have depend on the type and dose of chemotherapy you get. Side effects vary, but common ones are nausea, vomiting, tiredness, pain and hair loss. Healthy cells usually recover after chemotherapy, so most side effects gradually go away.
Your course of therapy will depend on the cancer type, the chemotherapy drugs used, the treatment goal and how your body responds. You may get treatment every day, every week or every month. You may have breaks between treatments so that your body has a chance to build new healthy cells. You might take the drugs by mouth, in a shot or intravenously.
National Cancer Institute
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Chemotherapy
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/chemotherapyintroduction/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/chemotherapyintroductionspanish/htm/index.htm -
Chemotherapy and You: Support for People with Cancer
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/chemotherapy-and-you
- Chemotherapy Principles(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/eto/eto_1_3_chemotherapy_principles.asp
- Chemotherapy: Drug Treatment Uses Chemicals to Kill Cancer Cells(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/chemotherapy/CA00029/METHOD=print
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JAMA Patient Page: Cancer Chemotherapy(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/299/22/2706.pdf
- Drug Combo Fights Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth(09/18/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69453.html
- Gene Boosts Resistance to Chemo Drug(09/15/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69289.html
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Study Provides Clues about How Cancer Cells Develop Resistance to Chemotherapy Drug(09/14/2008, National Cancer Institute) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/sep2008/nci-14.htm
- Higher Body Mass Index May Reduce Chemotherapy Response(09/12/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69211.html
- More News on Cancer Chemotherapy http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_c.html#cancerchemotherapy
- Acupuncture(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Acupuncture.asp?sitearea=ETO
- When Treatment Causes Eating Problems(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/MBC_6_1_when_treatment_causes_eating_problems.asp
- Chemotherapy and Your Emotions(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/mbc/content/mbc_2_3x_chemotherapy_and_your_emotions.asp?
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Helping Yourself during Chemotherapy
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/helping-yourself-during-chemotherapy
- Combination Therapy(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec15/ch182/ch182h.html
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Drug Information Summaries(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/alphalist
- Epoetin and Darbepoetin Treatment(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/ASCO+Resources/Patient+Guides/ASCO+Patient+Guide%3A+Epoetin+and+Darbepoetin+Treatment
- Oral Chemotherapy: What You Need to Know(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_2x_Oral_Chemotherapy.asp
- Cancer Drugs: Weighing the Risks and Benefits(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2007/107_cancer.html
- Chemobrain(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_2_3x_Chemobrain.asp?sitearea=MBC
- Chemotherapy and Hair Loss: What to Expect during Treatment(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hair-loss/CA00037/METHOD=print
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Chemotherapy and Your Mouth(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/CancerTreatment/ChemotherapyYourMouth.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/CancerTreatment/QuimioterapiaylaBoca.htm
- Chemotherapy Side Effects: A Cause of Heart Disease?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/chemotherapy-side-effects/AN01407/METHOD=print
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JAMA Patient Page: Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/295/9/1088.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/295/9/1088/DC1/1
- Low Blood Cell Counts: Side Effect of Cancer Treatment(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cancer-treatment/CA00066/METHOD=print
- Managing Side Effects of Chemotherapy(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_2_1x_Managing_Side_Effects_of_Chemotherapy.asp?sitearea=MBC
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Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ)(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/oralcomplications/Patient/page2
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/cuidados-medicos-apoyo/complicacionesorales/Patient/page2
- Preventing Nausea and Vomiting Caused by Cancer Treatment(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/ASCO+Resources/Patient+Guides/ASCO+Patient+Guide%3A+Preventing+Nausea+and+Vomiting+Caused+by+Cancer+Treatment
- Second Cancers Caused by Cancer Treatment(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_2X_Second_Cancers_Caused_By_Cancer_Treatment.asp?
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Targeted Cancer Therapies: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/targeted
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Vascular Access Procedures (Central Catheters)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=vasc_access&bhcp=1
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=vasc_access&bhcp=1
- Venous Access(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Venous_Access.html
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Chemotherapy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/chemotherapyintroduction/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/chemotherapyintroductionspanish/htm/index.htm
- Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=229
- How Do I Pay for My Chemotherapy?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_7x_How_Do_I_Pay_for_My_Chemotherapy.asp?sitearea=&level=
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cancer Chemotherapy(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/intervention=chemotherapy
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IV Iron Effective in Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/ESA0408
- New Studies on Anemia Drugs' Risks(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/anemia010408.html
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: What "helps" tumors evade vascular targeting treatment? - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18701052&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Small molecules targeting p53 to improve antitumor therapy. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18691143&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Recent trends in targeted anticancer prodrug and conjugate design. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18691040&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cancer Chemotherapy -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(neoplasms/dt[majr:noexp]+AND+(antineoplastic+agents[majr]+OR+antineoplastic+protocols[majr]+OR+chemotherapy,adjuvant[majr]))+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+news[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
- Glossary of Terms Relating to Chemotherapy(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/eto/content/eto_1_7x_glossary_of_terms_relating_to_chemotherapy.asp
- Find Treatment Centers(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ftc/ftc_0.asp
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National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/cancer-centers
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/instituto/hojas-informativas/programa-centros-oncologicos
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
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National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
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Chemotherapy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/cancer/chemo.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/comunes/chemo_esp.html
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Chemotherapy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/chemotherapy.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/chemotherapy_esp.html
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Chemotherapy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/medical_care/chemo.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/enfermedades/chemo_esp.html
- Side Effects of Chemotherapy on Reproduction & Sexuality in Men(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/mit/content/mit_7_2x_side_effects_of_chemotherapy_on_reproduction_sexuality_in_men.asp?
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Chemotherapy and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Services) - Links to PDF - http://otispregnancy.org/pdf/chemotherapy.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://otispregnancy.org/pdf/es_Quimioterapia.pdf
- Side Effects of Chemotherapy on Reproduction & Sexuality in Women(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/mit/content/mit_7_2x_side_effects_of_chemotherapy_on_reproduction_and_sexuality_women.asp?sitearea=mit
- Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancer.html
- Cancer Alternative Therapies - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/canceralternativetherapies.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
- Drug Therapy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugtherapy.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Cancer Chemotherapy is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/
Cancer Chemotherapy - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/cancerchemotherapy.html