Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs or chemicals to treat an illness or disease. It is most often associated with the treatment of cancer. Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, chemotherapy may be taken by mouth, as an injection, or placed directly into the brain tumor site.
Once chemotherapy drugs enter the bloodstream, they work to destroy fast-growing cancer cells. And while the treatment is meant to only target cancer cells, healthy cells also can be damaged or destroyed in the process, potentially causing side effects for the patient.
Not all chemotherapy drugs produce side effects and side effects vary depending on the treatment used and the person receiving it. People receiving similar treatments can experience different side effects.
Patients may receive chemotherapy in a hospital, ambulatory care center, doctor's office, or their home depending on the type of treatment. Patients may receive one drug or a combination of
drugs, and may receive chemotherapy in addition to other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or biological therapy.