Chemotherapy is an important treatment for breast cancer, which is often used following surgery for women who have not yet had their menopause and who are at increased risk of developing a recurrence. Women who have breast tumours that are not hormone-positive are also most likely to receive this type of treatment.

The term chemotherapy describes treatment with a type of drug which acts by stopping the growth of cancer cells and preventing their spread to other parts of the body. Treatment usually involves a combination of two or more drugs and requires a monthly hospital visit, where chemotherapy is often given in the form of a continuous injection into a vein for between 10 and 15 minutes. The treatment course usually lasts for four to six months. Because it goes straight into the bloodstream, chemotherapy can work quickly all over the body.

Side effects of chemotherapy

A number of side effects commonly accompany chemotherapy, however, since many chemotherapy drugs are now available, and used in different combinations, the various possible side effects that might occur with your particular treatment need to be discussed thoroughly with your doctor before treatment begins.

For women who have not yet reached the menopause, this type of treatment may prevent the ovaries from working and cause periods to cease. It is important to discuss it with your hospital doctor if you are considering having children.

Some patients can sometimes feel sick after chemotherapy, but nowadays, most doctors give anti-sickness tablets to help keep this feeling to a minimum. Another side effect is hair loss, which does not happen in every case or with all chemotherapy drugs but can cause distress to women who are unaware that it may happen to them. This effect is almost always temporary and the hair re-grows when the treatment is over. Some women put on weight during treatment and may be advised to eat carefully whilst they are receiving treatment. You may feel tired or low in spirits during the treatment, and it is important to discuss and share your feelings with your family members, your friends and the hospital staff who are caring for you.

If your doctor has recommended that chemotherapy is to be the first choice of treatment for your breast cancer, you need to discuss all the options and their side effects with him/her very carefully before planning your treatment.

For a more detailed overview of chemotherapy and various chemotherapy course options click here