Chemotherapy, in its most general sense, is the treatment of a disease by chemicals[1] especially by killing micro-organisms or cancerous cells. In popular usage, it refers to antineoplastic drugs used to treat cancer or the combination of these drugs into a cytotoxic standardized treatment regimen. In its non-oncological use, the term may also refer to antibiotics (antibacterial chemotherapy). In that sense, the first modern chemotherapeutic agent was arsphenamine, an arsenic compound discovered in 1909 and used to treat syphilis. This was later followed by sulfonamides (sulfa drugs) and penicillin.
Most commonly, chemotherapy acts by killing cells that divide rapidly, one of the main properties of most cancer cells. This means that it also harms cells that divide rapidly under normal circumstances: cells in the bone marrow, digestive tract and hair follicles; this results in the most common side effects of chemotherapy—myelosuppression (decreased production of blood cells), mucositis (inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract) and alopecia (hair loss).
Other uses of cytostatic chemotherapy agents (including the ones mentioned below) are the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and the suppression of transplant rejections (see immunosuppression and DMARDs). Newer anticancer drugs act directly against abnormal proteins in cancer cells; this is termed targeted therapy.
Scientists have made a great deal of progress in developing therapies to help manage the side effects of chemotherapy. Newer cancer treatments and supportive care treatments have led to vast improvements in the management of symptoms associated with cancer treatment. Although chemotherapy is designed to treat cancer cells, unfortunately, it often affects parts of your body not directly affected by the cancer itself. This undesired result is referred to as a complication of treatment, or a side effect.1 Some people don't experience side effects at all, and you are unlikely to experience all the side effects you read about below. There is no way to tell who will experience side effects or which side effects they may experience.
Side effects may be acute (short-term), chronic (long-term), or permanent. Side effects may cause inconvenience, discomfort, serious illness and even death.2,3 Additionally, certain side effects may prevent doctors from delivering the prescribed dose of chemotherapy at the specific time and schedule of the treatment plan.4-6
Side effects from chemotherapy can include pain, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, and blood-related side effects.1 In this section, you can learn more about the importance of diagnosing and monitoring blood-related side effects. These may include low infection-fighting white blood cells count (neutropenia), low red blood cells count (anemia), and low platelets count (thrombocytopenia).1
Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
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Practical advice about anemia, tips to help people with cancer feel less tired, and signs to call your doctor about. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Practical tips to help people with cancer make eating easier, stay strong during chemotherapy and manage appetite changes. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Practical steps to help people with cancer prevent bleeding problems during chemotherapy and know what problems to call your doctor about. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Practical tips to help people with cancer prevent or relieve constipation and feel better during chemotherapy. Learn what foods can help and key questions to ask your doctor.
Practical information to help people with cancer prevent or relieve diarrhea and feel better during chemotherapy. Learn what foods and drinks may help you feel better and what problems to call your doctor about.
Practical tips to help people with cancer make a plan to feel less tired and fatigued during chemotherapy. Learn what problems you should call your doctor about and read questions to ask your doctor.
Practical tips on how others have coped with hair loss (also called alopecia) during chemotherapy. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Practical advice to help people with cancer lower their chances of getting infections during chemotherapy and problems to call their doctor about. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Practical information about what causes memory changes during chemotherapy. Get helpful tips and learn what questions to ask your doctor.
Practical steps that people with cancer can take if their mouth or throat hurts during chemotherapy. Learn about a mouth rinse that can help, what foods to avoid, and questions to ask your doctor.
Practical tips and advice to help people with cancer prevent nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy. Learn what foods and drinks are easy on your stomach. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Practical information about nerve changes (also called peripheral neuropathy) and tips that have helped others during chemotherapy. Learn what changes to call your doctor about and questions to ask your doctor.
Practical advice to help people with cancer prevent or manage pain during chemotherapy treatment. Tips to help you track your pain, get the most from your pain medicine, and know when to call your doctor.
Practical information and answers to questions from men about sexual problems or fertility changes due to chemotherapy. Learn what questions to ask your doctor before treatment starts.
Practical information and answers to questions from women about sexual problems or fertility changes due to chemotherapy. Learn what questions to ask your doctor before treatment starts.
Practical information to help people with cancer care for their skin and nails during chemotherapy and problems to call their doctor about. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Practical information for people with cancer about what causes swelling (fluid retention) during chemotherapy, steps to take to prevent it, and when to call their doctor. Learn what questions to ask your doctor.
Practical information about how to prevent or manage changes in urination during chemotherapy, problems to call your doctor about, and questions to ask your doctor.
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