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Definition
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with anti- cancer drugs.
Purpose
The purpose of chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells. Not only is it often used to treat patients with cancer that has metastasized (spread) from the site in the body where it originated, today chemotherapy can be used to prevent metastasis as well. Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells throughout the body, killing cells that have broken off from the main tumor and traveled through the blood or lymph systems to other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy can cure some types of cancer. In some cases, it is used to slow the growth of cancer cells or to keep the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. When a cancer has been removed by surgery, chemotherapy may be used to keep the cancer from recurring; this is known as adjuvant therapy. Chemotherapy also can ease the symptoms of cancer, helping some patients to have a better quality of life.
Precautions
There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs. Oncologists (specialists in cancer) determine which drugs are best suited for each patient. This decision is based on the type of cancer, the patient's age, health, and preferences, as well as other drugs the patient is taking. Some patients may not tolerate certain chemotherapy drugs if they have other illnesses such as heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes.
Chemotherapy, whether administered in the hospital, clinic, or at home, is prepared by the pharmacist. The pharmacy and pharmacy assistants provide and reinforce patient education about common as well as infrequent side effects of chemotherapy. When administered in the hospital, clinic, physician's office, or other treatment setting, it is usually administered by a specially trained nurse, mid-level practitioner (physician assistant of nurse practitioner), or physician.
Description
More than 50 chemotherapy drugs are currently available to treat cancer, and many more are being tested for their ability to destroy cancer cells. Most chemotherapy drugs interfere with the ability of cells to grow or multiply. Although these drugs affect all cells in the body, most useful treatments are more effective against rapidly growing cancer cells. Since chemotherapy affects rapidly growing cells, it often affects cells that normally grow rapidly such as cells in the bone marrow, stomach intestines, and hair follicles. This is why some of the most common side effects of chemotherapy are bone marrow suppression, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
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Author Info: Barbara Wexler M.P.H., The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, 2002 |
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