Chemotherapy (also called “chemo”) is the use of drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. The drugs are also called cytotoxics, which means toxic to cells (cyto). Chemotherapy is one anticancer drug treatment.
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How does chemotherapy work?
All cells in the body grow by dividing into 2 cells. Cancer cells are cells that divide rapidly and grow out of control. Chemotherapy damages the cells that are dividing rapidly.
Most chemotherapy drugs are delivered into the bloodstream and they can travel to all parts of the body to reach cancer cells in the organs and tissues. This is known as systemic treatment. Occasionally, chemotherapy is delivered directly to the cancer. This is known as local chemotherapy.
Why have chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy can be used for different reasons:
| As the main treatment | The aim is to reduce or stop the signs and symptoms of cancer. This is called curative chemotherapy. |
| Before other treatments | The aim of chemotherapy given before surgery or radiation therapy is to shrink the cancer so that the other treatment works better. This is called neoadjuvant therapy. |
| After other treatments | The aim of chemotherapy given after surgery or radiation therapy is to get rid of any remaining cancer cells and try to cure the cancer. This is called adjuvant therapy. |
| With other treatments | Chemotherapy may be given with radiation therapy (called chemoradiation or chemoradiotherapy) or with immunotherapy or targeted therapy. |
| For cancer that has spread | Chemotherapy may be used to slow the growth and stop it from spreading for a period of time. This is called palliative chemotherapy. In rare cases, palliative treatment can also achieve remission, when the signs and symptoms of cancer reduce or are no longer detected during routine tests. |
| To relieve symptoms | By shrinking a cancer that is causing pain and other symptoms, chemotherapy can improve quality of life. This is also called palliative chemotherapy. |
| Stop cancer coming back | Chemotherapy might continue for months or years after remission. This is called maintenance chemotherapy. It may be given with other drug therapies to stop or delay the cancer returning. |
How is chemotherapy used?
There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs, and each type damages cancer cells in a different way. You might have treatment with one chemotherapy drug or several drugs. If a combination of drugs is used, each drug is chosen to attack cancer cells in a particular way.
The chemotherapy drugs you have will depend on the type of cancer. This is because different drugs work on different cancer types. Sometimes chemotherapy is the only treatment used to treat cancer, but you may also have other treatments.
How cancer is treated
Cancers are usually treated with surgery, radiation therapy (radiotherapy), and drug therapies such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
These treatments may be used on their own, in combination (for example, you may have chemotherapy together with radiation therapy) or one after the other (for example, chemotherapy first, then surgery).
Types of cancer treatments
| surgery | An operation to remove cancer and/or repair a part of the body affected by cancer. |
| drug therapies | Drugs can travel throughout the body. This is called systemic treatment. Drug therapies include:
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| radiation therapy | The use of a controlled dose of radiation to kill or damage cancer cells so they cannot grow, multiply or spread. Treatment aims to affect only the part of the body where radiation is targeted. |
| other treatments | These are treatments that may be used for some types of cancers:
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Your treatment plan
Because each cancer is unique, your treatment plan may be different from other people’s, even when the cancer type is the same. You may need only one treatment or a combination of treatments.
What treatment your doctor recommends will depend on:
- the type of cancer you have
- where the cancer began (the primary site)
- the size of the cancer and how far it has grown (the stage)
- whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body (metastatic or secondary cancer)
- specific features of the cancer cell
- your general health, age and treatment preferences
- what treatments are currently available and whether there are any clinical trials suitable for you.
Cancer treatment is constantly changing and improving. New treatments may become available in the near future.
Call Cancer Council 13 11 20 for free booklets and information about different cancer types and their treatments.
Chemotherapy for children
The information here is for adults having chemotherapy, although much of it will also be relevant for children. Talk to your treatment team for specific information about chemotherapy for children, and check out:
- Cancer Australia Children’s Cancer – for information about children’s cancers.
- Camp Quality – supports children aged 0–15 and their families. Call 1300 662 267.
- Canteen – supports young people aged 12–25 who have been affected by cancer. Call 1800 226 833.
- See Talking to kids about cancer or listen to our podcast on Explaining Cancer to Kids.
→ READ MORE: Common questions about chemotherapy
When you’ve got to have chemo, it’s quite frightening because you’ve only heard bad things about it. But then I spoke to the oncologist and he explained the benefits.
Phil
Video: What is chemotherapy?
Watch this short video to see Medical Oncologist Prof Fran Boyle explain more about the role of chemotherapy, how you get it, and possible side effects.
A/Prof Kate Mahon, Director of Medical Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Katherine Bell, Dietetics Department, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Brigitta Leben, Dietetics Department, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Sophie Michele, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Jess Smith, Medical Oncologist, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Karene Stewart, Consumer; Julie Teraci, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Skin Cancer and Melanoma, Cancer Network WA.
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