Chemotherapy Protocols: How Does Chemotherapy Work?

Normally, cells live, grow and die in a predictable way. Cancer occurs when certain cells in the body keep dividing and forming more cells without the ability to stop this process. Chemotherapy protocols involve destroying cancer cells by keeping the cells from further multiplying. Unfortunately, in the process of undergoing chemotherapy protocols, healthy cells can also be affected, especially those that naturally should divide quickly.

Chemotherapy protocols strive to maximize the elimination of cancer cells while minimizing the negative effects that these protocols have on healthy cells. Much progress in developing successful chemotherapy protocols has been made, including the identification of many different types of cancer and the corresponding development of effective chemotherapy protocol solutions. But there is still much work to be done.

The discussion of chemotherapy protocols is incomplete without a thorough understanding of additional topics regarding chemotherapy. Our chemotherapy terms page and later sections in this site further discuss different types of chemotherapy, specific types of cancer for which they are used, and the biological processes affected throughout the body.

More Chemotherapy Information:

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