- Chemotherapy is a treatment approach that employs medications designed to halt the proliferation of cancer cells or eliminate them altogether. It is frequently utilized in the management of systemic cancers or as a preliminary measure to reduce the size of tumors before surgical intervention or radiation therapy.
- The core principle of chemotherapy is to administer powerful drugs that can either target and destroy cancer cells or hinder their ability to divide and multiply. These drugs can be delivered through various means, including oral ingestion or intravenous infusion. They then circulate throughout the bloodstream, enabling them to reach cancer cells both at the primary site and potential metastatic locations.
- Chemotherapy plays a pivotal role in treating cancers that have spread throughout the body and are not easily accessible through surgical means. Additionally, it can be used as an adjuvant treatment to surgery or radiation therapy, serving to shrink tumors and enhance the efficacy of these interventions.
- The choice to employ chemotherapy, the specific drugs used, and the treatment regimen are highly individualized and determined by factors like the type of cancer, its stage, and the patient’s overall health. While chemotherapy can be associated with side effects, its role in the broader spectrum of cancer care is invaluable in combating this complex disease.
Chemotherapy
