Chemotherapy can seem like a mystery to many people—some know it works to fight cancer, but how exactly does it do that? Let’s dive into how this treatment works and what you can expect.
What is Chemotherapy?
At its core, chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. These drugs circulate throughout your body via your bloodstream, making chemo especially useful for cancers that have spread beyond one area.
The key target of chemotherapy is rapidly dividing cells, which is why it’s so effective against cancer cells that are growing and multiplying uncontrollably.
How Does Chemotherapy Attack Cancer?
Cancer cells divide much more rapidly than most normal cells, which makes them a prime target for chemotherapy drugs. Here’s what happens when you receive chemo:
- Chemotherapy drugs enter the bloodstream: Once the drugs are inside your body (usually through an IV, though it can be in pill form too), they move throughout your entire system, making their way to wherever cancer cells are hiding.
- Targeting fast-growing cells: Cancer cells tend to multiply faster than normal cells. Chemo attacks them during specific phases of their life cycle, interfering with their ability to grow and divide. The end result? These cancer cells die off.
- Side effects from collateral damage: Because chemo can’t differentiate between cancer cells and other fast-growing cells in the body (like hair follicles or the lining of your digestive tract), it can cause side effects like hair loss, nausea, and fatigue.
Different Types of Chemotherapy Drugs
Chemotherapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on the type of cancer you have, doctors may prescribe a combination of drugs to get the best results. Here are a few types of chemotherapy drugs and how they work:
– Alkylating agents: These drugs directly damage the DNA of cancer cells, stopping them from growing. They are often used to treat cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.
– Antimetabolites: These mimic substances that cancer cells need to grow and trick them into using these “fake” materials, which then kills the cancer cell.
– Topoisomerase inhibitors: These interfere with enzymes that cancer cells use to unwind DNA for copying. If cancer cells can’t copy their DNA, they can’t multiply.
How is Chemotherapy Given?
Chemo can be given in several ways, depending on your treatment plan:
– Intravenous (IV): The most common way is through a drip or a needle that delivers the drugs directly into your veins.
– Oral: Some chemo drugs come in pill form, which you can take at home.
– Injections: In some cases, chemo is given as an injection into a muscle or under the skin.
You may receive chemotherapy in cycles, with periods of treatment followed by rest. This gives your body time to recover between sessions.
Is Chemotherapy Effective?
Chemotherapy has been a cornerstone of cancer treatment for decades. While it’s not always a cure, it’s often very effective at shrinking tumors, controlling the spread of cancer, or even putting cancer into remission. Many patients receive chemo along with other treatments like surgery or radiation.
However, the effectiveness of chemo can vary depending on the type and stage of cancer. This is why it’s so important to have regular check-ups with your oncologist to assess how well the treatment is working.
Managing Chemo’s Side Effects
Because chemotherapy targets fast-growing cells, some healthy cells get caught in the crossfire, leading to side effects like hair loss, fatigue, and nausea. But these side effects are temporary, and doctors can prescribe medications to help manage them.
