Definition for Difference between revisions of "Chemotherapy"
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| − | Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen | + | Chemotherapy is the treatment of [[cancer]] with an [[antineoplastic drug]] or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen. The most common chemotherapy agents act by killing cells that divide rapidly, one of the main properties of most cancer cells. This means that chemotherapy also harms cells that divide rapidly under normal circumstances: cells in the '''bone marrow''', '''digestive tract''', and '''hair follicles'''. This results in the most common side-effects of chemotherapy: myelosuppression (decreased production of blood cells, hence also immunosuppression), mucositis (inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract), and [[alopecia]] (hair loss). |
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| + | Certain chemotherapy agents also have a role in the treatment of other conditions, including ]]ankylosing spondylitis]], [[multiple sclerosis]], [[Crohn's disease]], [[psoriasis]], [[psoriatic arthritis]], [[rheumatoid arthritis]], and [[scleroderma]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 21:17, 20 November 2020
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen. The most common chemotherapy agents act by killing cells that divide rapidly, one of the main properties of most cancer cells. This means that chemotherapy also harms cells that divide rapidly under normal circumstances: cells in the bone marrow, digestive tract, and hair follicles. This results in the most common side-effects of chemotherapy: myelosuppression (decreased production of blood cells, hence also immunosuppression), mucositis (inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract), and alopecia (hair loss).
Certain chemotherapy agents also have a role in the treatment of other conditions, including ]]ankylosing spondylitis]], multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma.