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What Is the Importance of Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy, or chemo, is a drug treatment plan to combat cancers that occur in many parts of the body. It may be used in combination with other cancer treatments, such as surgery and radiation.

    Effects

    • Chemotherapy is used to stop the growth of cancer cells, according to the Patient Education Institute. It can also be used to shrink tumors before surgery is performed to remove them, according to BreastCancer.org.

    Action

    • Chemotherapeutic medications target cells that divide rapidly, including cancer cells, according to the Patient Education Institute.

    Considerations

    • Unlike other forms of cancer treatment, chemotherapy is systemic, meaning that it can affect the entire body, according to BreastCancer.org. This means that even healthy cells might be destroyed along with cancer cells.

    Side Effects

    • The healthy parts of the body most commonly affected by chemotherapy include the skin, the stomach lining, the intestines and the bladder. This is because these cells also divide rapidly, just like cancer cells, according to the Patient Education Institute.

    Benefits

    • Chemotherapy can help greatly improve an individual's chances of surviving cancer. Consulting with physicians about side effects can help doctors alleviate a patient's discomfort or pain.

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