Anti-cancer drugs are commonly called chemotherapy or chemo for short. They are used before or after cancer surgeries, alone to treat the cancer or with radiation therapy that shrinks the tumors or cancer cells.
Work on DNA
Some chemo drugs damage your DNA so the cancer cells can not reproduce; some replace normal building blocks of DNA that cancer has destroyed; some interfere with enzymes in DNA replication; and some interfere with the copying of DNA strands.
Work on Mitosis
Some chemo drugs stop mitosis, which is needed to reproduce cancer cells. They work during the M phase, when cells actually split, but also continue to work by destroying cells in all phases of cell production.
When Are They Used?
Chemo is used if the doctor feels that your cancer can be treated, controlled or cured.
How Are They Given?
Chemo drugs are given in pill form, in shots or through a vein into the body. They can be given daily, weekly or monthly depending on what type of cancer is being treated.
Effects
Chemo kills cancer cells but also kills healthy normal cells that make hair grow and are found in bone marrow. They also kill stomach cells which in turn makes you vomit.
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