Most often, the term Chemotherapy is used as a reference to drug treatments that stop cancer cells from growing and spreading through a patient’s body. While doctors may call these standard or traditional chemotherapy treatments, the medications used pretty much function the same. Drugs are circulated in the patient’s bloodstream, directly damaging active cancer cells.

The reason chemotherapy treatments and/or drugs work is because cancer cells, being able to divide and grow faster than normal cells, are more susceptible to the damaging effects of the drugs. The downside is healthy cells are also susceptible to the damaging effects of the drugs, accounting for the side effects that chemotherapy patients experience. Traditional or standard chemotherapy has different uses, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition although there are specific or targeted chemotherapy treatments that are less damaging to normal cells. As with most treatments, chemotherapy causes side effects to patients. Side effects depend a lot on the type of treatment a patient is undergoing or what type of medication is being taken.

Different drugs or treatments will cause different side effects and could be mild or severe. Side effects though, can be treated; some easily while others can be a little difficult to control. Most of the time, chemotherapy side effects go away on their own as soon as treatment or medication is stopped. While it is true that the side effects mild or otherwise can be very uncomfortable for patients, the benefits of chemotherapy and its subsequent treatments are worth the discomfort. It’s important to discuss treatments, medications and the side effects with your doctor prior to doing anything so you can fully understand the situation.

Traditional Chemotherapy and Its Uses

It is important to understand that the use of chemotherapy is largely dependent on the medical condition of the patient. Most of the time, Chemotherapy is used after a patient’s surgery or therapy, as a way to make sure that all remaining cancer cells are eliminated. This is called an adjuvant treatment. In certain cases, chemotherapy can be used to treat patients before therapy or surgery, particularly if the tumor is large. This is called neoadjuvant therapy and the aim is to shrink tumors and minimize cancer cells.

However, for patients suffering from leukemia or cancer of the lymph system such as lymphoma, chemotherapy is the only treatment recommended. Additionally, chemotherapy can be used to treat recurrent cases of cancer as well as cancer or tumors that have spread throughout the body.

The Goals of Chemotherapy

The goal of chemotherapy as a treatment is determined on the severity of the cancer and how much of it has spread throughout the body. Although there are times when chemotherapy is used to destroy cancer cells and stop it from reoccurring, there are instances when chemotherapy is used to slow down the growth of tumors prior to surgery or radiation treatments. Another goal is to use chemotherapy to minimize uncomfortable symptoms of the cancer. Again, the use and goal of chemotherapy is determined on the type of cancer a patient has.

Chemotherapy Drugs and Ways of Receiving Treatment

There are various ways a patient can receive chemotherapy treatments, determined again by the type and severity of the cancer. The most common way is through an IV, allowing the medication to be administered directly into a patient’s vein. Although one IV dose will last for a few minutes and can extend to a few hours, there are drugs that are more effective when administered over a period of days or even weeks.

There are also chemotherapy drugs that can be taken orally which is quickly becoming a popular method to administer treatments particularly when patients are prescribed targeted chemotherapy treatments. Oral medications come in liquid, capsule or more commonly, pill form. Ondansetron or Zofran, is a popular chemotherapy drug that works by preventing nausea-triggering chemicals in the body. Vomiting is a common effect in patients that are undergoing radiation treatments or surgery and drugs like Zofran are used to eliminate these symptoms. It’s important to understand though, that Zofran is not prescribed to patients that have a history of allergic reactions to ondansetron or any other similar medications.

Prior to taking the medication or starting any oral treatment, inform your doctor if you or your family has a history of liver disease. Because drugs like Zofran contain phenylalanine, you must inform your doctor if you have or have had a history of phenylketonuria. When taking oral medication for cancer, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter. Never over or under-dose these types of medications or take them for longer periods of time than what the doctors recommend.

Chemotherapy drugs can also be administered through injections; a shot to the fatty part of the patient’s tummy, arm or leg. In certain cases drugs are administered directly into the artery that supplies blood into the tumor. Topical drugs are also available. These medications are in cream form and rubbed into the skin.