Chemotherapy is the use of chemical agents to treat or control diseases. It works by killing fast dividing cells like cancerous cells and other healthy cells which include hair follicles, bone marrow, reproductive system etc.
You would get anxious at the mention of chemotherapy for above reasons but there is not much cause for worry as healthy cells regenerate fast after the therapy is complete. Chemotherapy is either used exclusively or in combination with radiation or surgical therapies.
Advantages
Unlike radiation, which kills cancer cells in the target area, chemotherapy is universal and treats the entire body. This attacks the untreated cancer cells from the previous cancer too. Doctors use chemotherapy depending on the spread and type of cancer to
· Destroy cancer cells from the body, no withstanding its wide spread
· Prolong life expectancy by controlling cancer growth and spread
· Alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life
· Prevent Palliative treatment
Chemotherapy Types and Methodology
Chemotherapy is not always based on a single drug for the fear of developing resistance to the drug. On the other hand a combination has different actions at the cellular level and kills more cancer cells preventing further spread. Your doctor decides on the combination considering your age, tolerance limit, and health. Mind you, all such combinations are tested on patients with similar conditions.
A few representative types.
1. Alkylating agents, deter the replication of DNA, prevents cancer cell growth.
2. Antimetabolites, block the enzyme supply to cancer cells on which they thrive.
3. Anti-tumor antibiotics change cell membranes by blocking
