Orally
Many chemotherapy medications are available in liquid or pill form. You can generally take these types of chemotherapy drugs at home, but the American Cancer Society advises that you follow the exact directions provided by your prescribing doctor.
Shots
Some chemotherapy medications are liquid and given as a shot. You may be able to give these shots to yourself, says the ACS. Other chemotherapy shots must be given at the hospital or doctor's office. This is often a shot in the muscle, administered in your hip, thigh or arm, or in the fatty areas of your stomach, leg or arm, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Intravenous Injections
The most common way that chemotherapy is administered is via intravenous (IV) injection. A needle attached to a tube is inserted into a vein (maybe in your arm or the back of your hand), and the medication slowly flows into your body.
Topical Medication
Some forms of chemotherapy are available in topical form, says the NCI. These topical chemotherapy drugs come in a cream or ointment that you can rub into your skin, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream.
Schedule
How often you are given your chemotherapy drugs depends on your particular regimen and your medication. Sometimes chemotherapy is administered daily, while other times you only need it once a week or even as infrequently as once per month, says the ACS.
