How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer can have different goals. Doctors differentiate between the following types of chemotherapy:

Curative chemotherapy: Curative chemotherapy aims to eliminate all cancer cells from the body and make the cancer go away completely.

Adjuvant chemotherapy: Adjuvant chemotherapy mainly aims to fight the cancer cells that might be left in the body after surgery, but that can't be detected. The goal of this kind of supportive therapy is to prevent recurrences.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Some tumors are too big to be directly operated on. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can often shrink the tumor enough for it to be surgically removed at all, or for it to be removed using less invasive surgery.

Palliative chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is called palliative when it is no longer possible to remove all tumor cells. Chemotherapy can then help to relieve certain symptoms, to slow down the progress of the disease or to stop it temporarily, and to avoid complications.

The medications used in chemotherapy are usually given using an infusion into a vein (IV drip), but some medications can also be taken as tablets. There are many different cytostatics, which are often given in combination with one another. Because these medications travel in the bloodstream, they usually affect the whole body. So they can also reach cancer cells that aren't detected in examinations, and that can therefore not be targeted with surgery or radiation. This kind of treatment is known as systemic treatment.

In a few types of cancer it's also possible to use local chemotherapy. Then the medications are injected directly into the affected part of the body, for example the spinal canal. In that way they only reach areas connected to the spinal canal, such as the brain or the membranes lining the brain and spinal cord. Basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) is sometimes treated with chemotherapy medications applied as a cream or an ointment, which only act locally.

Chemotherapy is often combined with radiotherapy – it is then called radiochemotherapy. Radiotherapy can be done at the same time as or after chemotherapy. Some cytostatics only have an effect in combination with radiotherapy. In that case, chemotherapy only acts locally – in the places where radiation was applied.

People who receive cytostatics over a long period of time can sometimes get these drugs through a device called a port. A port is a small container that is inserted under the skin in an outpatient operation, and connects to a large vein with a thin tube. It can remain in the body for as long as the course of treatment lasts. This has the advantage that infusions can be connected to the port without having to look for a vein and puncture it for each treatment.

In chemotherapy, cancer is treated with cytostatics at specific intervals. This is also referred to as treatment cycles or treatment schedules. Various factors influence the number of cycles and the intervals between the individual treatments, including

• how long the effect of the administered drug lasts,
• how much time the body needs to recover, and
• the overall length of treatment.

Treatment schedules are tested in studies, which allows them to be optimized over time. How exactly a treatment is done not only depends on research results, though, but also on the individual's personal wishes and general health. If chemotherapy is causing severe adverse effects, for example, it can make sense to deviate from the commonly used treatment schedule.

Doctors can see whether a tumor is responding to the chemotherapy with the help of various examinations, such as blood tests, tissue samples and imaging techniques (e.g. computed tomography). If the treatment isn't working, other medications can be used instead, or the treatment can be stopped.

Chemotherapy no longer means that you have to stay in the hospital for a long time. One of the reasons is that it's now possible to better manage the side effects. Many hospitals and doctor's offices now offer outpatient treatments. It is even possible to do chemotherapy with tablets at home. But it may still be necessary to stay at the hospital for very intensive treatments. This is the case, for example, if there's a high risk of infection or if doctors have to do frequent checks, for example of kidney function.

Nowadays, many types of cancer can be treated successfully with chemotherapy. But people often still worry a lot about the side effects. Cytostatics usually attack not only the cancer cells, but also healthy cells that divide quickly. These include blood-producing cells, hair cells, and the mucous membrane cells in the mouth and throat area and in the digestive system. This can have short-term effects like hair loss, anemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and infections in the mouth. But these side effects can often be prevented or the symptoms can be relieved: Blood transfusions help ease the effects of anemia, which mainly include tiredness and exhaustion. Anti-emetic (anti-nausea) drugs can often relieve nausea and vomiting. Infections can be prevented and treated with antibiotics or antifungal drugs.

The severity of the side effects of chemotherapy varies. Some people tolerate cytostatics better than others. The possible side effects also depend on the dose, the treatment schedule and the specific drugs that are used. What's more, not all kinds of chemotherapy cause severe side effects, and most of them are temporary. Hair usually grows again after the treatment, and the mucous membranes and blood production typically return to normal.

The side effects of chemotherapy can sometimes occur after treatment has ended, particularly in young people. Because chemotherapy might damage sperm or eggs, people are advised to use reliable contraceptives during treatment.