Written by Top Doctors
Medical oncology
Understanding chemotherapy: what to expect and how to manage side effects
Chemotherapy works by targeting cancer cells with aggressive chemical drugs called cytotoxins. The cytotoxins work by preventing the division and multiplication of cancer cells. Ideally, the cytotoxins will only kill the cancer cells, but because they are so potent, they inevitably cause damage to healthy and helpful cells of the body. This will cause unintentional side effects that can take its toll on the body and mind, and it is good to be prepared for what may happen.