Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. These drugs work by targeting and destroying rapidly dividing cells, which is a characteristic of cancer cells. However, chemotherapy can also affect normal, healthy cells that divide quickly, leading to a range of side effects. How Chemotherapy Works Chemotherapy drugs can be administered in several ways, including: Intravenous (IV): Directly into a vein. Oral: In pill or liquid form. Injection: Into a muscle or under the skin. Topical: Applied to the skin. Intraperitoneal (IP): Delivered directly into the abdominal cavity. Intra-arterial (IA): Delivered into an artery. Goals of Chemotherapy The goals of chemotherapy can vary depending on the type and stage of cancer: Curative: Aims to cure cancer completely. Control: Prevents cancer from spreading or slows its growth. Palliative: Relieves symptoms caused by cancer to improve quality of life. Types of Chemotherapy Alkylating Agents: Damage DNA and prevent cancer cells from reproducing. Antimetabolites: Interfere with DNA and RNA growth by substituting normal building blocks. Anti-tumor Antibiotics: Change the DNA inside cancer cells to keep them from growing and multiplying. Topoisomerase Inhibitors: Interfere with enzymes called topoisomerases, which help separate DNA strands for replication. Mitotic Inhibitors: Stop mitosis (cell division).
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