Chemotherapy of A New Generation

Chemotherapy drugs are used to stop the division and replication of cancer cells but can also damage some of the most sensitive normal cells such as bone marrow, lining the mouth and digestive tract, and hair follicle (which is responsible for Classic hair loss). Cancer cells can not survive after the attack of chemotherapy drugs, but healthy cells can be affected. Most cell damage recovered from chemotherapy is completed.


Each chemotherapy drug has a unique way to capture and kill cancer cells. Often several drugs are used in combination to attack cancer cells from more than one way. Some cancers, prostate cancer, for example, develop resistance to a single chemotherapeutic agent and hence, in this situation, a combination treatment can be successful.

Generally, chemotherapy is administered intravenously or through a door. This allows a "rest time" for the patient, from the recovery of side effects. Directly after chemotherapy, an anti-sickness medication is given to reduce the unpleasant side effects. Rest period also gives susceptible healthy cells a chance to recover the cells becoming cancerous is destroyed.

Chemotherapy has the potential to cure the disease completely destroy all cancer cells. Sometimes, a treatment cycle is prolonged, even when there is no evidence of cancer. This is to eliminate all cancer cells that are too small for detection. In advanced stages of cancer, chemotherapy can be administered on the quality of life - in order to reduce the tumor, which would alleviate the pain and prolong life.

Strategies for the use of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is used preoperatively to tumor shrinkage, which makes it easier to remove and less invasive surgery. In post-operative treatment plan, chemotherapy is almost used as a preventive measure, to kill all cells that are too small for the detection and elimination during surgery. In conjunction with radiotherapy, chemotherapy work together to kill cancer cells faster.

Bone marrow transplants are indicated by the use of high-dose chemotherapy. Stem cells are used to replace the bone marrow. Again, this is a specific treatment for very few types of cancer.

Cellular mechanisms of cancer Destruction

As indicated above, chemotherapy drugs are the only areas of the cancer cell. Some of the older drugs are not as precise cause most unpleasant side effects. New drugs have been developed that can target the outer wall of the cancer cell of the cell playback mechanism inside the cell and an "death receptor" on the cancer cell, which can cause the cell death .

In most cases, chemotherapy drugs are used in combination with each other, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and biological therapy.