Chemotherapy involves fighting the cancer cells and decreasing
pain with a variety of chemicals, otherwise known as drugs. Chemo
drugs are taken to harm all fast growing and dividing cells in the
body. While the drugs are harming the abnormal cancer cells, they
sadly affect other healthy fast growing cells like hair cells.
Chemo drugs can be taken in a variety of different ways. The more
common method is intravenously using a central line that has been
surgically implanted into a major vein prior to beginning
treatment. Other methods include swallowing pills, drinking liquid,
injections and internal and external pumps.
It's hard knowing that in order to get better you have
to be really sick. When i've had the treatment i'm fine for the
first three or four hours and then it hits me. It affects different
people in different ways and each time I have the treatment I don't
know how my body will react.
Brook, Waikato.
The most effective way to kill cancer is to use several
different drugs (combination chemo) rather than relying on one drug
to kill all of the cancer cells. Chemo treatments can be given
daily, weekly or monthly, depending on the amount of time it takes
for new healthy cells to grow in between treatments.