Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of diseases such as cancer with drug therapy. Since the 1960's the development and use of drugs has significantly improved the prognosis for some types of cancer. Chemo- means chemicals, for most types of cancer chemotherapy will consist of a number of different drugs, this is known as combination chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be given in a variety of ways; Intravenously (IV) -into a vein is the most common, Intramuscularly (IM) -injection into a muscle, Orally -by mouth, Subcutaneously (SC) -injection under the skin, Intralesionally (IL) directly into a cancerous area, Intrathecally (IT)-into the fluid around the spine, or Topically -medication will be applied onto the skin.
Overview: What is Chemotherapy? Specific Drugs
Oncology PharmacyOverview: What is Chemotherapy? (5 links)
Cancer Research UK
CancerHelp information is examined by both expert and lay reviewers. Content is reviewed every 12 to 18 months. Further info.
Includes sections about how you have chemotherapy, planning chemotherapy treatment, chemotherapy side effects, and living with chemotherapy.
Macmillan Cancer SupportContent is developed by a team of information development nurses and content editors, and reviewed by health professionals. Further info.
Chemotherapy Primer: Why? What? and How?
Oncolink
Article by Julia Maltzman, MD and Lara Millar, MD. Explains the background to chemotherapy, cell cycle and different types of drugs and how they work.
Starting Chemotherapy: What to Expect
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Starting chemotherapy treatment can feel scary and overwhelming. Hear from Joanna, a breast cancer patient, who describes her initial fears and talks about what the experience of receiving chemotherapy was actually like...
Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy
Nucleus Medical Media
This 3D medical animation about chemotherapy depicts normal cell division, apoptosis, tumor cell formation, tumor development, covers the various effects of chemotherapy.
