Chemotherapy Explained: How It Works for Cancer Treatment & Key FAQs

Our body contains nearly 30 trillion or 30 lakh crore cells. These cells grow in a specific pattern and eventually die over time. The dying cells are replaced by new and healthy ones. Healthy cells continuously consume and clear away old dead cells. Furthermore, if any cell deviates from its pattern and harms the body, healthy cells consume and destroy it. This acts as our body’s protective army, tasked with eliminating potential enemies and keeping the body healthy and alive under all circumstances.

As long as this healthy cycle continues, we can consider ourselves healthy. However, this pattern is disrupted when cancer occurs. In fact, when cancer arises, the control over cells is lost. They begin to grow and divide uncontrollably. This uncontrolled growth takes the form of a tumor.

Despite ongoing research, there are still no very effective and affordable treatments for cancer. Currently, chemotherapy is the most effective treatment for cancer. It can halt the abnormal growth of cells. However, a major issue is that most cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages. Therefore, many people die during chemotherapy. Many begin to view it as a cause of death. Gradually, numerous questions and fears about chemotherapy arise among people.

Hence, today we will discuss chemotherapy. You will also learn about:

• How chemotherapy works?
• What effects it has on our body?
• How to prepare yourself before chemotherapy?
• In India, in the year 2022, 9.1 lakh people died due to cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were a total of 14.1 lakh new cases of cancer in India in 2022. That year, cancer caused a total of 9.1 lakh deaths.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there are more than 32 lakh people in India who have been living with cancer for over 5 years. This means their cancer was detected at an early stage, and then chemotherapy or other treatments were available in time.

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is an aggressive form of chemical drug therapy that targets rapidly growing cells in our body. It is commonly used to treat cancer because cancer cells grow and divide faster than normal cells.

Based on the patient’s health condition and the stage of cancer, it is determined whether to provide only chemotherapy or to include other treatments like surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy.

In the early stage, cancer is covered only with chemotherapy. As the stage progresses, it is combined with surgery and radiation. It also depends on various other conditions.

How Does Chemotherapy Work?

When cancer occurs, the cells in the cancerous part of the body start to grow and divide uncontrollably without following any pattern. Chemotherapy drugs prevent this uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells. Basically, chemotherapy inhibits the division and reproduction ability of cancer cells. It includes various types of drugs, each with different effects. Different chemotherapy drugs attack cells at various stages of their life. Some drugs attack rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, while others may target specific parts of cancer cells. Sometimes a single drug is used in chemotherapy, while other times doctors use a combination of multiple drugs.

How is Chemotherapy Administered?

Chemotherapy is usually administered in the form of tablets, direct injections, or intravenously (IV). Additionally, chemotherapy can be provided in many other ways based on the patient’s condition and needs.

Based on the location of the tumor in the body, chemotherapy can be administered directly to the tumor. If surgery is performed to remove the tumor, the doctor may use a slowly dissolving disk that releases medication over time. For skin cancer, chemotherapy cream can be applied. Medication can be delivered directly to the cancerous area, such as the abdomen, chest, central nervous system, or bladder. Some chemotherapy drugs can be taken as tablets. Some liquid chemotherapy drugs can be given in a single shot, while others may require a port where injections can be given repeatedly.

How to Prepare Yourself Before Chemotherapy?

Firstly, it is important to understand and accept that chemotherapy is a treatment for a serious medical condition. Therefore, planning before starting treatment is crucial. You can seek help from doctors and hospital staff. They can help anticipate potential problems.

Doctors may recommend some medical tests to rule out potential issues. This helps determine if the patient is healthy enough for chemotherapy. Generally, liver and heart health are checked. Some doctors may also recommend mental health evaluations.

If there is a pre-existing medical condition or illness, the doctor may suggest treating it before starting chemotherapy as existing conditions may worsen during treatment.

Tips to Prepare for Chemotherapy

• Manage Your Workload: People can generally continue working during chemotherapy. However, it is advisable to minimize work and try to reduce side effects by maximizing rest. You should lessen your work burden.
• Prepare Yourself and Your Home: You need to prepare both yourself and your home before chemotherapy. Clean the house, do laundry, and remove clutter. This is important as chemotherapy drugs can have serious effects.
• Seek Help for Pets and Children: If you have pets or young children, you can seek help from someone to take care of them. It is better to get assistance from a family member or friend.
• Expect Side Effects: Ask your doctor about the possible side effects and plan accordingly.
• Consider Fertility Preservation: If doctors say chemotherapy may cause infertility and you want to conceive, you can consider preserving sperm, eggs, or fertility.
• Prepare for Hair Loss: If hair loss occurs during chemotherapy, you can buy head covers, caps, or wigs in advance.
• Join a Support Group: Sharing your experiences with others going through similar medical or physical conditions can be comforting. Staying with family and friends is essential during chemotherapy due to many changes in the body and mind. If desired, you can join a support group to share your thoughts and gain comfort. This can help maintain optimism and also calm any fears or concerns about the treatment.