What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy
It is a type of treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Chemotherapy can be given alone or alongside other treatments, such as surgery or radiation.
Overview
This treatment involves using powerful chemicals to target and destroy cancer cells in the body. These drugs work by interfering with the cancer cells' ability to grow and divide, which is crucial for their survival. For example, a common chemotherapy drug called doxorubicin is often used to treat breast cancer by damaging the DNA of the cancer cells, preventing them from multiplying. Chemotherapy can be administered in various ways, including through an IV, orally as pills, or even directly into a body cavity. The method chosen depends on the type of cancer being treated and the overall health of the patient. While chemotherapy is effective, it can also affect healthy cells, leading to side effects such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss. Understanding chemotherapy is important in the field of pharmacology because it involves the study of how these drugs interact with the body. Researchers continually work on improving these treatments to make them more effective and reduce side effects. This ongoing research helps doctors provide better care for patients battling cancer.