Chemotherapy What It Is, How It Helps What’s in this guide If your doctor has told you that you have cancer, you may have a lot of questions. Can I be cured? What kinds of treatment would be best for me? Will it hurt? How long will treatment take? How much will it cost? How will my life change while I’m being treated and after the treatment ends? These are all normal questions for people with cancer. This guide will explain one type of treatment – chemotherapy – a little better. We’ll try to help you know what chemotherapy is and what it will be like. If you have more questions, ask your doctor or nurse to help you. It is always best to be open and honest with them. That way, they can help you decide which treatment is best for you. Questions about chemotherapy What is chemotherapy ? Chemotherapy is the use of strong drugs to treat cancer. You will often hear chemotherapy called “chemo,” but it is the same treatment. Chemo was first used to treat cancer in the 1950s. It has helped many people live full lives. The chemo drugs your doctor or nurse gives you have been tested many times. Research shows they work to help kill cancer cells. What does chemo do? There are more than 100 chemo drugs used today. Doctors choose certain types of drugs based on the kind of cancer you have and its stage (how much cancer is in your body). Chemo can be used for different reasons. Your doctor will discuss these with you before you start treatment. Chemo may be used to: • Keep the cancer from spreading. • Slow the cancer’s growth. • Kill cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. • Relieve symptoms such as pain or blockages caused by cancer. • C...
