Chemotherapy Drugs: Types and Side Effects
Chemotherapy Drugs FAQ
What are chemo drugs?
Chemotherapy drugs are the medicines used during chemotherapy, or “chemo.” Chemotherapy is one of the most common and effective cancer treatments available. It destroys fast-growing cells, like cancer cells, and prevents them from multiplying. Cells — including cancer cells and healthy cells — reproduce during a process called the cell cycle.
What does chemotherapy mean?
In today's usage, the sense "any treatment of disease with drugs" is often expressed with the word pharmacotherapy. In terms of metaphorical language, 'chemotherapy' can be paralleled with the idea of a 'storm', as both can cause distress but afterwards may have a healing/cleaning effect.
How is chemotherapy used to treat cancer?
Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body. Many different chemotherapy drugs are available. Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination to treat a wide variety of cancers.
How are chemotherapy drugs grouped?
Chemotherapy drugs are grouped based on their composition (what they’re made of) and how they destroy cancer cells. Some types of chemotherapy drugs work most effectively during specific phases of the cell cycle, while others kill cancer cells at all phases.
Who prescribes the course of chemotherapy?
A medical oncologist or haematologist prescribes the course of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is usually given as a liquid through a thin tube into a vein (intravenously). Chemotherapy is sometimes given by mouth as tablets or capsules (orally).
Chemotherapy Drugs References
If you want to know more about Chemotherapy Drugs, consider exploring links below:
What Is Chemotherapy Drugs
- https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/treatment/chemotherapy
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/most-common-chemo-drugs
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24323-chemotherapy-drugs