Comprehensive Guide to Chemotherapy Medications in Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy medications are powerful drugs used to treat cancer by targeting and destroying rapidly dividing cancer cells. They are administered in various forms such as intravenous infusions, oral tablets, or injections.
Category
Drug
Where to get
Available in oncology clinics and hospitals with a doctor's prescription.
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Chemotherapy Medications FAQ


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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 types of cancer can chemotherapy treat?

Chemotherapy can be used to treat many types of cancers. It can also be used to treat recurrent cancer and metastatic cancer. Recurrent cancer is cancer that comes back after treatment. Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. What factors determine a chemotherapy plan? There are many drugs available to treat cancer.

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.

What should I know about chemotherapy?

Being prepared and understanding chemotherapy can help lessen some of the stress surrounding your treatment. Ask your oncologist, doctor or nurse any questions you have about the risks and benefits of chemotherapy. What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy (or “chemo”) is the use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells.

Chemotherapy Medications References

If you want to know more about Chemotherapy Medications, consider exploring links below:

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