Chemotherapy—a powerful tool in the fight against cancer
Chemotherapy puts cancer-killing drugs into your bloodstream.
To some people, chemotherapy can sound intimidating. But if your healthcare provider
has suggested chemotherapy, or simply “chemo,” you can feel assured that this treatment
decision is based on medical science and what is right for your individual situation.
Chemo for head and neck cancer can be given in several ways:
- Intravenous (IV): Chemotherapy goes directly into a vein
- Injection: Chemotherapy is given by a shot in a muscle in an arm, thigh,
or hip, or just under the skin in the fatty part of an arm, leg, or belly
- Intra-arterial (IA): Chemotherapy goes directly into the artery
that is feeding the cancer
- Intraperitoneal (IP): Chemotherapy goes directly into the peritoneal
cavity—the area that contains the intestines, stomach, liver, and ovaries
- Topically: Chemotherapy comes in a cream that you rub onto the
skin
- Orally: Chemotherapy comes in pills, capsules, or liquids
Because these drugs move throughout the body, they can treat cancers that have spread
to other organs.
When is chemotherapy used to treat head and neck cancer?
Chemo is used mainly in 3 situations:
- Adjuvant chemotherapy: For treatment after surgery, to reduce the
risk of cancer returning, and to kill cells that may have spread
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: For treatment before surgery
Chemo is given in cycles, alternating between periods of treatment and rest. Treatment
can last several months, or even longer. Some cancers will respond to therapy and
some will not. Your healthcare team may adjust your treatment over time.
What are the side effects of chemo?
Anti-cancer drugs harm cells that grow quickly, including the blood cells that fight
infections, the cells that line the mouth and digestive tract, and the hair follicles.
Chemo can cause some side effects, such as sores in the mouth and on the lips, loss
of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, loss of hair, tiredness, skin rash, and balance problems.
People being treated with chemotherapy should talk with their doctors and nurses
about the side effects they are experiencing, and how best to manage them.
Managing side effects
Return to top