Chemotherapy

treatmentCancer treatments have dramatically changed over the years and especially in the last few decades. Because doctors and scientists have been able to examine patient’s genes, they have begun to discover specific details about the patient’s cancer and develop treatments to target how it grows and spreads.

Chemotherapy is a treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells directly, attacking all rapidly dividing cells (including cancerous and non-cancerous cells) effectively targeting fast-growing tumors. These attacks on healthy cells are what causes some of chemotherapy’s more well-known side effects, such as hair loss, diarrhea, and nausea.

Chemotherapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments to treat a wide variety of cancers. 

Your physician, after careful review, will recommend a course of treatment based on your diagnosis and other key factors. Because everyone is unique, treatment plans may vary even if you have a similar diagnosis as others.

“To the staff of Lancaster Cancer Center, thank all of you for being an
essential member of my survival team.”
–Kathy, grateful survivor