Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Cytotoxic means toxic to cells. These drugs disrupt the way cancer cells grow and divide, but they also affect normal cells, which may cause side effects.鈥�Chemotherapy may be chosen as a course of treatment on its own, or alongside surgery and/or radiotherapy.听听
It鈥檚 important to discuss the benefits and side effects of chemotherapy with your cancer specialist. If you have a cancer that has spread, and you decide that you don鈥檛 want to have chemotherapy, your doctor can still prescribe medicines to help control symptoms.鈥�听
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy:听
Chemotherapy is often given before an operation to remove a liver cancer as it can shrink the tumour, making it easier to remove. This is sometimes called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 听
Adjuvant chemotherapy:听
Chemotherapy can sometimes be given after surgery to reduce the chances of the disease coming back. It works by destroying any cancer cells that might be left behind after the operation. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.鈥�听
Palliative chemotherapy:听听
Unfortunately, in some cases when the cancer cannot be cured or has spread to other parts of the body, treatment is then focused on shrinking the tumour/s and relieving symptoms rather than curing the cancer. This is called palliative chemotherapy.鈥�听
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For more information on chemotherapy for liver cancer, visit:听听
For full information on the Oncology Department at SA国际传媒 Hospital, please view the Oncology Department page.听
For information on the different medications used to treat different cancers, visit where you will be able to find information on the medication you have been prescribed via their 鈥楢 to Z list of cancer drugs鈥�.
Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via this .
