Treating Cancer With Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the general term for any treatment involving the use of chemical agents to stop cancer cells from growing. Many people fear chemotherapy because they have heard that it can have uncomfortable side effects. But side effect management has come a long way over the last few decades. Today, many side effects once associated with chemotherapy can be prevented or controlled. More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer receive chemotherapy. For millions of people, chemotherapy helps treat their cancer effectively, enabling them to enjoy full, productive lives. How Chemotherapy Works Chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered through a vein, injected into a body cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill, depending on which drug is used. Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells, but unfortunately, it cannot tell the difference between a cancer cell and some healthy cells; therefore chemotherapy eliminates not only the fast-growing cancer cells, but also other fast-growing cells in your body, including, hair and blood cells. | 
