Chemotherapy is a treatment used for some types of cancer. This booklet gives information about chemotherapy. We hope that it answers some of the questions you may have about the treatment and helps you to cope with any side effects it may cause. Where cancer is mentioned, this refers to cancer, leukaemia and lymphoma.

Sometimes chemotherapy is used to treat non-cancerous conditions but often the doses are lower and the side effects may be reduced. This booklet does not cover the use of chemotherapy for conditions other than cancer.

The booklet is divided into sections about how the treatment works, how it is given and how to deal with some of the more common side effects. You are likely to have questions and concerns about your own treatment that this information does not cover, as there are over 200 different types of cancer and over 50 chemotherapy drugs, which can be given in various ways. It is best to discuss the details of your own treatment with your doctor, who will be familiar with your particular situation and type of cancer.

If you think that this information has helped you, you can show it to any of your family and friends who may find it useful. They too may want to be informed so they can help you cope with any problems you may have.

What chemotherapy is

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells (including leukaemia and lymphoma).

There are over 50 different chemotherapy drugs. Some are given on their own but often several drugs are given together. This is known as combination chemotherapy.

The type of chemotherapy treatment you are given depends on many things, but particularly:

• the type of cancer you have
• where the cancer started in your body
• what the cancer cells look like under the microscope
• whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.

Chemotherapy may be used alone to treat some types of cancer. It may also be used with other types of treatment such as surgery,radiotherapy,hormonal therapy,biological therapies, or a combination of these.

What is cancer?

The organs and tissues of the body are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Cancer is a disease of these cells.

Cells in different parts of the body may look and work differently but most reproduce themselves in the same way. Cells are constantly becoming old and dying, and new cells are produced to replace them. Normally, cells divide in an orderly and controlled manner. If for some reason the process gets out of control, the cells carry on dividing, developing into a lump which is called a tumour.

Tumours can be either benign or malignant. Cancer is the name given to a malignant tumour. Doctors can tell if a tumour is benign or malignant by examining a small sample of cells under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.

In a benign tumour the cells do not spread to other parts of the body and so are not cancerous. However, if they continue to grow at the original site, they may cause a problem by pressing on the surrounding organs.

A malignant tumour consists of cancer cells that have the ability to spread beyond the original area. If the tumour is left untreated, it may spread into and destroy surrounding tissue. Sometimes cells break away from the original (primary) cancer. They may spread to other organs in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is part of the immune system - the body's natural defence against infection and disease. It is a complex system made up of organs, such as bone marrow, the thymus, the spleen, and lymph nodes. The lymph nodes (or glands) throughout the body are connected by a network of tiny lymphatic ducts.

When the cancer cells reach a new area they may go on dividing and form a new tumour. This is known as a secondary cancer or metastasis.

It is important to realise that cancer is not a single disease with a single type of treatment. There are more than 200 different kinds of cancer, each with its own name and treatment.