Chemotherapy (chemo) uses anti-cancer drugs that are injected into a vein, injected into a muscle, or taken by mouth. Chemotherapy is systemic therapy, which means that the drug enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body (through the whole system) to reach and destroy the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is seldom helpful for most types of thyroid cancer. It is combined with external beam radiation therapy for anaplastic thyroid cancer and is sometimes used for other advanced cancers that are no longer responding to other treatments.
Possible side effects
Chemotherapy drugs attack cells that are dividing quickly, which is why they work against cancer cells. But other cells in the body, such as those in the bone marrow, the lining of the mouth and intestines, and the hair follicles, also divide quickly. These cells are also likely to be affected by chemotherapy, which can lead to side effects.
The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the type and dose of drugs given and the length of time they are taken. Common side effects of chemo include:
- Hair loss
- Mouth sores
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased chance of infections (due to low white blood cell counts)
- Easy bruising or bleeding (due to low blood platelet counts)
- Fatigue (due to low red blood cell counts)
These side effects are usually short-term and go away after treatment is finished. There are often ways to lessen these side effects. For example, drugs can be given to help prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting.
Some chemotherapy drugs may have other specific side effects that require monitoring. For example, doxorubicin (the most common chemo drug used in thyroid cancer) can affect heart function. Therefore a patient taking doxorubicin will get regular heart function tests like echocardiograms.
For more information about chemotherapy, see the American Cancer Society document, Understanding Chemotherapy: A Guide for Patients and Families.
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