Chemotherapy in Gachibowli, Hyderabad

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It generally works by stopping cancerous cells from multiplying and growing. Because cancer cells usually grow faster than normal cells, chemotherapy has more effect on cancer cells. However, the drugs used for chemotherapy are potent, and they can still cause damage to healthy cells.

The goals of chemotherapy depend on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. Sometimes, treatment aims to get rid of all cancer and stop it from coming back. Delaying cancer growth with chemotherapy also helps manage symptoms caused by cancer.

Different types of chemotherapy:

• To cure cancer without other treatments: In such situations, chemotherapy is the primary or sole treatment of cancer.
• To kill hidden cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be used after treatments, such as surgery, to kill any cancer cells that may remain in the body. This is named as adjuvant therapy.
• To prepare for further treatments. Chemotherapy can be used to shrink a tumor so that other treatments, such as radiation and surgery are possible. This is known as neoadjuvant therapy.
• To ease signs and symptoms. Chemotherapy may help relieve signs and symptoms of cancer by killing some of the cancer cells. And this is called palliative chemotherapy.

How long does chemotherapy take?

Chemotherapy is often given for a specific time, such as six months or a year, for as long as it works.

Side effects from many drugs are too severe to provide treatment every day. Medications will be given as per sessions and break in between, so that patient will have time to rest and recover before the subsequent treatment.

How is chemotherapy given?

Chemotherapy can be given in several different ways, which are mentioned below.

• Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. Many drugs require injection directly into a vein, which is called intravenous or IV chemotherapy.
• Oral chemotherapy. Drugs are given by mouth, and they can be in a pill, capsule, or liquid formulation.
• Injected chemotherapy. The drugs may be given to a muscle (Intramuscular) or injected under the skin (Subcutaneous)
• Chemotherapy into an artery. Sometimes chemotherapy is injected into an artery which is branching to tumor, called intra-arterial or IA chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy into the peritoneum or abdomen. Medication might be placed directly into the abdomen for some cancers, and this type of treatment works for cancers involving the peritoneum. Ovarian cancer is one type of cancer that frequently spreads to the peritoneum.
• Topical chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is in the form of cream to be applied over the skin.