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Cancer Chemotherapy
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Drug Therapy

Cancer Chemotherapy

Cancer chemotherapy is a medical treatment that utilizes specific medicines to destroy cancer cells, stop their spread, or slow their growth.

What is cancer chemotherapy?

Cancer chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses medicines to destroy cancer cells. Normally, your body forms new cells as needed, replacing old cells that die. Cancer cells, however, keep growing without control; new cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor. Chemotherapy works by killing these cancer cells, stopping them from spreading, or slowing their growth.

Chemotherapy is used to:

  • Treat cancer by curing the cancer, lessening the chance it will return, or stopping or slowing its growth.
  • Ease cancer symptoms by shrinking tumors that are causing pain and other problems.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy does not just destroy cancer cells; it can also harm some healthy cells, which causes side effects. The experience of side effects varies; you may have many, few, or none at all. This depends on the type and amount of chemotherapy you receive and how your body reacts.

Some common side effects are:

  • Mouth sores
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain
  • Hair loss

There are ways to prevent or control some side effects. You should talk with your health care provider about how to manage them. Because healthy cells usually recover after chemotherapy is over, most side effects go away over time.

What can I expect when getting chemotherapy?

You may receive chemotherapy in a hospital, at home, at your provider's office, or at a medical clinic. Medicines may be administered by mouth, in a shot, as a cream, through a catheter (a thin tube), or intravenously (by IV).

Your treatment plan will depend on the type of cancer you have, which chemotherapy medicines are used, the treatment goals, and how your body responds to the medicines. Chemotherapy may be given alone or with other treatments. You may receive treatment every day, every week, or every month, and you may have breaks between treatments to allow your body a chance to build new healthy cells.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, which includes hair follicles in addition to cancer cells. This causes hair to fall out, usually starting two to three weeks after treatment begins. In most cases, hair will grow back after treatment ends, though it may initially appear thinner, curlier, or a different color. The texture and color often return to normal over several months as the follicles fully recover.
You should contact your care team immediately if you experience a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, as chemotherapy can lower your white blood cell count, making you highly susceptible to serious infections. Other urgent signs include uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea that prevents you from keeping fluids down, unusual bleeding or bruising, shortness of breath, or chest pain. These symptoms may indicate a medical emergency requiring prompt intervention.
For most patients, light to moderate exercise is safe and beneficial, helping to combat fatigue, improve mood, and maintain muscle strength. However, you should avoid intense workouts if you have low platelet counts (risk of bleeding) or low white blood cell counts (risk of infection). Always consult your oncologist before starting a new exercise routine, and listen to your body by resting when you feel overly tired or unwell.
Proactive management is key. Take anti-nausea medications exactly as prescribed, even if you do not feel sick yet, as they work best when taken before symptoms start. Eating small, frequent meals rather than large ones can help settle your stomach. Avoiding strong odors, spicy foods, and fatty meals can also reduce triggers. Staying hydrated with clear fluids or electrolyte drinks is essential to prevent dehydration from any vomiting episodes.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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