Print
Email
Normal results
The main goal of chemotherapy is to cure cancer. Many cancers are cured by chemotherapy. It may be used in combination with surgery to keep a cancer from spreading
Doctors can tell if the chemotherapy is working by the results of medical tests. Physical examination, blood tests, and x rays are all used to check the effects of treatment on the cancer.
The possible outcomes of chemotherapy are:
- Complete remission or response. The cancer completely disappears. The course of chemotherapy is completed and the patient is tested regularly for a recurrence.
- Partial remission or response. The cancer shrinks in size but does not disappear. The same chemotherapy may be continued or a different combination of drugs may be tried.
- Stabilization. The cancer does not grow or shrink. Other therapy options may be explored. A tumor may stay stabilized for many years.
- Progression. The cancer continues to grow. Other therapy options may be explored.
- A secondary malignancy may develop from the one being treated, and that second cancer may need additional chemotherapy or other treatment.
BOOKS
Dollinger, Malin, et al. Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy: How Cancer is Diagnosed, Treated, and Managed Day to Day. 3rd ed. Kansas City: Andres & McMeel, 1998.
Drum, David. Making the Chemotherapy Decision. Los Angeles: Lowell House, 1996.
McKay, Judith, and Nancee Hirano. The Chemotherapy Survival Guide. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 1993.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Cancer Society. 1599 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30329-4251. (800) 227-2345. <http://www.cancer.org>.
National Cancer Institute. Building 31, Room 10A31, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2580, Bethesda, MD 20892-2580. (800) 422-6237. <http://www.nci.nih.gov>.
OTHER
"Introduction to Chemotherapy." OncoLink. University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center. 1998 <http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu>.
"What is Chemotherapy?" OncoLink. University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center. 1998 <http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu>.
Toni Rizzo
KEY TERMS
Adjuvant therapy—Treatment given after surgery or radiation therapy to prevent the cancer from coming back.
Alkaloid—A type of chemical commonly found in plants and often having medicinal properties.
Alykylating drug—A drug that kills cells by directly damaging DNA.
Antiemetic—A medicine that helps control nausea; also called an anti-nausea drug.
Antimetabolite—A drug that interferes with a cell's growth or ability to multiply.
Platelets—Blood cells that function in blood clotting.
 |
Author Info: Toni Rizzo, The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 2002 |
Related Learning Centers |
 |
 |
 |
Advertise | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy