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| Chemotherapy Principles |
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The thought of having chemotherapy frightens many people. Almost everyone has heard stories about someone who was "on chemo." But knowing what chemotherapy is, how it works, and what to expect can often help calm your fears and give you a better sense of control over your cancer treatment and cancer experience.
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What Is Chemotherapy?
chemotherapy usually refers to drugs used for cancer treatment. Learn about the history of chemotherapy, what makes it different from other treatments, and how clinical trials are used to test new treatments.
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How Does Chemotherapy Work?
To understand how chemotherapy works as a treatment, it is helpful to understand the normal life cycle of a cell in the body. Learn how how doctors predict which drugs are likely to work well together and how doctors decide how often doses of each drug should be given.
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What Are the Goals of Treatment With Chemotherapy?
There are three main goals for chemotherapy treatment. Learn how doctors use chemotherapy to cure or control cancer, or for palliation.
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What Are the Different Types of Chemotherapy Drugs?
Chemotherapy drugs are divided into several categories based on how they affect specific chemical substances within cancer cells. Learn about the different types and how they work to fight cancer.
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Selecting Which Drugs to Use for Chemotherapy Treatments
Doctors take many factors into account when choosing which drugs to use for a chemotherapy regimen. Learn how doctors determine which drugs to use.
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Planning Drug Doses and Schedules
Most chemotherapy drugs are strong medicines that have a fairly narrow range of safe and effective doses. Learn how doctors calculate chemotherapy doses and determine treatment schedules for each individual.
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Where Are Chemotherapy Treatments Given?
In addition to considering what is most convenient to you, it is important to consider how the drugs are to be given. Find out what location options are available for your chemotherapy treatment.
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What Are the Different Ways To Take Chemotherapy?
Drugs used in chemotherapy regimens can be given in many ways. Learn about each method and why different treatment options are needed for different circumstances.
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Safety Precautions for Healthcare Professionals
Many chemotherapy drugs are considered hazardous. Learn what precautions nurses and doctors can take to avoid direct contact with the drugs while administering them.
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What Are the Possible Side Effects of Chemotherapy?
Side effects are different for each chemotherapy drug, and they also differ based on the dosage, the route the drug is given, and how the drug affects you individually. Learn what side effects to watch out for as you undergo chemotherapy.
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What Questions Should I Ask About Chemotherapy?
Good communication with your cancer care team is important. Find out what questions you may want to ask your doctor about your chemotherapy treatment.
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What's New in Chemotherapy Research?
Several exciting, new uses of chemotherapy and other agents hold even more promise for curing or controlling cancer. Learn about new drugs, new combinations of chemotherapy drugs, and new delivery techniques that will improve our ability to cure or control cancer and improve the quality of life for people with cancer.
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Additional Resources
Find more sources of information about chemotherapy treatment.
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References
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