More information about chemotherapy
For more general information about how chemotherapy is used to treat cancer, see Chemotherapy.
To learn about some of the side effects listed here and how to manage them, see Managing Cancer-related Side Effects.
Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of drugs to treat cancer. The drugs can be injected into a certain part of the body (such as the liver), or they can be injected into a vein (through an IV line) or taken by mouth (as a pill) to reach most of the body, making this treatment very useful for many types of cancer that have spread. Unfortunately, chemo is usually not as helpful for melanoma as it is for some other types of cancer, but it can shrink tumors in some people.
Chemo might be an option if uveal (eye) melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, although other treatments such as immunotherapy or targeted drugs might be tried first. If chemo is an option, the drugs used are generally the same as for melanoma of the skin. For more information, see Chemotherapy for Melanoma Skin Cancer.
Chemo 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 (where new blood cells are made), the lining of the mouth and intestines, and the hair follicles, also divide quickly. These cells are likely to be affected by chemo, which can lead to side effects.
The side effects of chemo depend on the type and dose of drugs given, how they are given, and the length of time they are taken. The side effects of systemic chemo can include:
These side effects usually go away after treatment is finished. There are often ways to lessen these side effects. For example, there are drugs to help prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. Some drugs may also have specific side effects not listed above. Be sure to ask your doctor or nurse about medicines to help reduce side effects, and let them know when you do have side effects so they can be managed.
For more general information about how chemotherapy is used to treat cancer, see Chemotherapy.
To learn about some of the side effects listed here and how to manage them, see Managing Cancer-related Side Effects.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: January 26, 2022
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