Chemotherapy: Overview of Treatment and Care Options

The chemotherapy it is based on the use of drugs that specifically eliminate malignant cells from tumor tissues.

Chemotherapy drugs act at different times and on different mechanisms of cell division. According to their mode of action, they are classified into different groups that include hormonal treatments, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, platinum complexes, monoclonal antibodies, kinase inhibitors, etc.

Types of chemotherapy

• It is called adjuvant chemotherapy when it is administered after tumor surgery or the use of it, to destroy the remaining cancer cells.
• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is called when it is given before surgery or radiation therapy.

Route of administration

It can be administered in various ways depending on the type of drug administered.

• Intravenously (i.v.). Most traditional chemotherapy drugs are given by this method.
• Orally. Some chemotherapy drugs, especially the newer ones, can be taken by mouth, making it easier to administer.
• By injection. The medicine is given as an injection into the muscle or a fatty area of ​​the body (arm, leg, or abdomen).
• Intraperitoneally. It is administered directly into the abdomen.
• Topically. The medicine is applied as a cream to the skin.
• Intrathecally. In the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

It is typically administered in the form of cycles. These are periods of drug administration followed by a rest period. The duration of each cycle is variable (days or weeks). A chemotherapy treatment will be carried out in a set number of cycles, after which the patient and the tumor's response to chemotherapy are reassessed.

Side effects

Neoplastic (cancer) cells are characterized by uncontrolled growth, that is, they grow and divide much faster than normal cells, which makes chemotherapy drugs act specifically on them. Even so, there is always an affectation or toxicity on healthy neighboring tissues and this translates into side effects associated with chemotherapy.

The most common widespread side effects include: nausea and vomiting, malaise, tiredness, hair loss, skin lesions, loss of appetite and weight, mouth sores,, infections, decreased defenses and.

• cancer treatment to completely remove or control the size and relieve symptoms of tumors.
• Adjuvant chemotherapy (given after surgery) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (given before surgery).
• Most common side effects: nausea, vomiting, general malaise, fatigue, hair loss, loss of appetite and weight, mouth sores, diarrhea, decreased defenses ...

Intensive Medicine Specialist