quick facts about Chemotherapy
* Chemotherapy, in its most general sense, refers to treatment of disease by chemicals[1] that kill cells, specifically those of micro-organisms or cancer.
* Chemotherapy has played a role in cancer treatment for more than 50 years. Here is a quick snapshot of additional information about chemotherapy.
* Chemotherapy drugs are often given into a vein. Once the drugs enter the bloodstream, they spread throughout the body. Clolar is given by intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning the medication is injected directly into a vein over a period of two hours.
* In some cases, chemotherapy may be just one drug given to fight the cancer. But in many cases, chemotherapy is given in combination with other drugs. Most newly diagnosed people with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive a combination of chemotherapy drugs.
* Because chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells, they can also damage normal cells. This is the cause of many common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
* Your doctor may prescribe certain medications to help prevent or lessen the side effects.
* Some chemotherapy drugs may put the patient at risk for dehydration. Drinking plenty of fluids may help prevent this potentially dangerous condition.
