Chemotherapy is defined by the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library as the use of drugs in order to induce the destruction of cancer cells. There are various classes of chemotherapy drugs, each with its own set of biological effects and potential complications. Some need to be injected, while others are available as a liquid or in capsule form. While chemotherapeutic agents are notorious for their sometimes unbearable side effects, they can offer many patients hope for a better and/or extended life.
Improving Quality of Life in Advanced Tumors
In some instances, the cancer is very advanced and either cannot be surgically removed completely or cannot be reached. Chemotherapeutic drugs offer the advantage of reducing cancer symptoms and improving the patient's quality of life. This treatment is called palliative chemotherapy. The "Journal of Lung Cancer" describes an important clinical example where chemotherapy helps improve the physical, emotional and social functioning through the reduction of pain, breathlessness and other disturbing symptoms in patients with a form of advanced lung cancer known as advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma.
Complete Cure in Sensitive Tumors
According to Cancer Research UK, some forms of cancer are well known for their potential to be cured completely by chemotherapy. Two notable examples are testicular cancers called seminoma, and a malignancy called Hodgkin's lymphoma. Also, a particular type of chemotherapy, known as hormonal treatment, drastically increases the odds of a complete cure in many hormone-sensitive tumors such as breast and prostate cancers. Chemotherapy may be used in conjunction with other treatment methods such as surgery; this constitutes what is known as cancer combination therapy.
Treating Blood Cancers
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society notes that chemotherapy is the most common form of treatment for blood and lymphoid tissue cancers, know as leukemia and lymphoma. In some instances, the treating physicians injects the chemotherapy drugs into the fluid around the spinal cord to prevent the spread of these tumors to the central nervous system.
References
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Chemotherapy
- "The Journal of Lung Cancer"; Response to chemotherapy, quality of life benefits and survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: review of literature results; Klastersky J., et al.; December 2001
- Cancer Research UK: CancerHelp UK; How Chemotherapy Works
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Treatments: Chemotherapy
