Chemotherapy Treatment Overview

Chemotherapy, often referred to as “chemo”, is a type of treatment for cancer that uses medication or a combination of different medications. Ultimately, the goal of chemo is to slow down or totally stop the growth of cancer cells. Sometimes chemotherapy is the only treatment needed, while other times it is used along with radiation therapy or surgery or both.

Chemo is a systemic therapy, meaning that it affects the entire body – in contrast to surgery and radiation, which removes, kills, or damages cancer cells in a particular area. In practice, this means that chemotherapy can be used to eradicate cancer cells that have metastasized (spread) throughout the rest of the body, and not just cells in the original tumor.

Chemotherapy can serve three basic roles: 1) to totally destroy the cancer cells and be a cure, 2) to control the growth and spread of cancer, 3) to ease symptoms by shrinking a tumor, and 4) to prevent disease recurrence. The specific function of chemo depends on the kind of cancer being treated and how far it has progressed.

At Sheba Medical Center, our skilled oncologists are highly experienced in designing the most effective chemotherapy treatments for your cancer. Depending on the particular type and stage of cancer, we decide which drug or combination of drugs to give, and we personalize the dose, the method of administering the chemo, and the frequency and duration of the treatment program.

In keeping with Sheba’s holistic approach to medicine, our doctors also consider how the cancer is affecting your normal body functions, general health, and overall quality of life in order to determine the most appropriate chemotherapy.