Chemotherapy facts for kids

Different drugs used in a chemotherapy against Cancer.

Chemotherapy, or 'chemo', is the use of chemical substances to treat diseases. The word "chemotherapy" is often used for a type of medicine used to treat cancer. The drugs are cytotoxic, which means they are toxic to the body's cells.

There are many types of chemotherapy. and doctors chose the medication that will treat each types of cancer in the best way. Often, chemotherapy drugs are combined with each other and with other drugs when a person is treated for cancer.

When a person has surgery to remove a tumor, chemotherapy may be given before or after.

Chemotherapy can also be used to treat other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Chemotherapy often has bad side effects:

• Loss or damage of hair and nails
• Weakened immune system
• Nausea and vomiting

Related pages

• Pharmacotheraphy
• Radiotherapy
• Therapy

Images for kids

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  5-FU dose management results in significantly better response and survival rates versus BSA dosing.

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  5-FU dose management avoids serious side effects experienced with BSA dosing

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  Two DNA bases that are cross-linked by a nitrogen mustard. Different nitrogen mustards will have different chemical groups (R). The nitrogen mustards most commonly alkylate the N7 nitrogen of guanine (as shown here) but other atoms can be alkylated.

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  Vinca alkaloids prevent the assembly of microtubules, whereas taxanes prevent their disassembly. Both mechanisms cause defective mitosis.

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  Topoisomerase I and II Inhibitors

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  Two girls with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving chemotherapy. The girl on the left has a central venous catheter inserted in her neck. The girl on the right has a peripheral venous catheter. The arm board stabilizes the arm during needle insertion. Anti-cancer IV drip is seen at top right.

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  The four phases of the cell cycle. G1 – the initial growth phase. S – the phase in which DNA is synthesised. G2 – the second growth phase in preparation for cell division. M – mitosis; where the cell divides to produce two daughter cells that continue the cell cycle.

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  Sidney Farber did pioneering work in chemotherapy

See also

In Spanish: Quimioterapia para niños