Chemotherapy

    Chemotherapy is one of the most influential tools we have to fight cancer. It kills cancer cells in the whole body by interfering with cell growth and division.

    Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy that affects your whole body by being delivered through the bloodstream. Its purpose is to get rid of any cancer cells that may have spread from where the breast cancer started to another part of the body.

    Chemotherapy is effective against cancer cells because the drugs interfere with rapidly dividing cells, (which is how cancer starts in the first place). The side effects of chemotherapy come about because cancer cells are not the only rapidly dividing cells in your body. The cells in your mouth, intestinal tract, blood, nails, nasal cavity, vagina, and hair follicles are also undergoing constant, rapid cell division. This means that the chemotherapy is going to affect these areas of your body as well.

    Chemotherapy is much more tolerable today than it was few years ago. For many women it is an "insurance policy" against the cancer returning. It is also important to remember that large organs such as the liver and kidneys where the cells do not divide rapidly are rarely affected by chemotherapy. Your health care team will monitor your side effects and will try to treat most of them.

Types of Chemotherapy:

Neo-adjuvant: Given before surgery to shrink the tumor so that surgery will be less extensive.

Adjuvant: Used in conjunction with, or in addition to, surgery and/or radiation.

Ways Chemotherapy is administered:

1. Intravenously: An injection in a vein.

2. Orally: Medication taken by mouth in the form of pills.