How does chemotherapy work to combat cancer cells?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 30-year-old male. I want to know some information on chemotherapy.

I want to know what chemotherapy is and how it is used in the treatment of cancer.
How does chemotherapy work at the cellular level to combat cancer cells?
Are there different types of chemotherapy drugs, and how are they classified?
In what situations is chemotherapy recommended as a part of cancer treatment?
What are the primary goals of chemotherapy?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Chemotherapy is a general term for medications used to destroy or stop the growth of cancer cells. Your child’s treatment plan will use the best medicine or combination of medicines available to most effectively combat your child’s specific type and stage of cancer. Chemotherapy medicines are given for several reasons:

To treat cancers that respond well to chemotherapy.
To decrease the size of tumors for easier and safer removal by surgery.
To enhance the cancer-killing effectiveness of other treatments, such as radiation therapy.
To control the cancer and enhance the patient's quality of life.

Chemotherapy works by interfering with the ability of cancer cells to divide and duplicate themselves. Chemotherapy can be given through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells all over the body, or it can be delivered directly to specific cancer sites. Each chemotherapy medicine works to prevent cells from growing by:

Preventing the copying of cellular components needed for cells to divide. Replacing or eliminating essential enzymes or nutrients that the cancer cells need to survive, or triggering cells to self-destruct.

I hope this information helps you.

Revert in case of queries.

Regards.