Chemotherapy plays a vital role in cancer treatment, offering hope and healing to countless patients around the world. At its core, chemotherapy works by targeting and attacking rapidly dividing cells, a key characteristic of cancer cells.
This makes it effective at slowing or even halting the growth of cancerous tumours.
One of the most powerful aspects of chemotherapy is its versatility. It can be used in various stages of cancer treatment. For instance, chemotherapy may shrink tumors before surgery, making it easier to remove them.
Post-surgery, chemotherapy helps eliminate any remaining cancer cells, reducing the risk of recurrence. In cases where cancer has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy can treat the metastasis, controlling the spread and improving survival rates.
But chemotherapy's impact extends beyond just fighting cancer. For patients with advanced cancer, chemotherapy can significantly relieve symptoms, offering a better quality of life. It helps control pain, manage swelling, and even reduce the size of tumors that may be causing discomfort.
Despite its effectiveness, chemotherapy does come with challenges. Because it affects both cancerous and healthy cells, it can cause side effects like hair loss, nausea, and fatigue.
However, advancements in treatment are making chemotherapy more targeted, focusing on cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. These improvements are helping patients endure treatment with fewer side effects, offering a better overall experience as they battle cancer.
