CHEMOTHERAPY IS A TYPE OF MEDICATION USED TO STOP OR SLOW THE GROWTH OF CANCER CELLS. THERE ARE VARIOUS GOALS WITHIN CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT DEPENDING ON THE TYPE AND STAGE OF CANCER.
IF YOU ARE BEING TREATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY WITH THE GOAL TO CURE THE CANCER WITHOUT ANY OTHER TREATMENTS, WE CALL THIS CURATIVE THERAPY. IF YOU ALREADY HAD OTHER TREATMENTS (SUCH AS SURGERY OR RADIATION), AND WE ARE NOW ADDING IN CHEMOTHERAPY TO KILL ANY REMAINING CANCER CELLS IN THE BODY, WE CALL THIS ADJUVENT THERAPY.
IF WE ARE GIVING CHEMOTHERAPY FIRST IN PREPARATION FOR OTHER TREATMENTS (SUCH AS SURGERY OR RADIATION), WE CALL THIS NEOADJUVANT THERAPY. LASTLY, IF YOU ARE RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY TO EASE THE EFFECTS OF THE CANCER BY KILLING SOME OF THE CELLS, WE CALL THIS PALLIATIVE THERAPY.
Title: Chemotherapy and the Cell Cycle
CHEMOTHERAPY WORKS ON THE CELLULAR LEVEL ATTACKING FAST GROWING CANCER CELLS. THESE CANCER CELL REPLICATE IN THE BODY BY A PROCESS CALLED THE CELL CYCLE. DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND HOW IT ACTS ON THE CELL CYCLE WILL DETERMINE WHEN IT IS GIVEN TO YOU.
SOME CHEMOTHERAPIES CAN KILL A CELL DURING ANY PHASE OF THE CELL CYCLE. THESE CHEMOTHERAPIES ARE CALLED CELL-CYCLE NONSPECIFIC AGENTS. OTHER CHEMOTHERAPIES CAN KILL A CELL ONLY DURING A SPECIFIC PHASE OF THE CELL CYCLE. THESE CHEMOTHERAPIES ARE CALLED CELL-CYCLE SPECIFIC AGENTS.
YOUR DOCTOR WILL ORDER YOUR CHEMOTHERAPY IN WHAT IS CALLED CYCLES. CYCLES ARE THE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN TREATMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, A CYCLE OF CHEMOTHERAPY MAY BE EVERY 14 DAYS OR EVERY 21 DAYS. YOUR TREATMENT CYCLE WILL BE BASED ON THE TYPE OF CHEMOTHERAPY YOU ARE RECEIVING AND YOUR DIAGNOSIS.
THIS INFORMATION IS NECESSARY TO KNOW SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF RECEIVING YOUR CHEMOTHERAPY AS SCHEDULED. UNLESS INDICATED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN, YOU DO NOT WANT TO DELAY OR CANCEL CHEMOTHERAPY APPOINTMENTS AS IT CAN AFFECT HOW THE MEDICATION IS ATTACKING THE CELLS DURING THE CELL CYCLE.