Quimioterapia

Doctors have access to a wide range of chemotherapy drugs. Your oncologist will decide on the drug or combination of drugs most suited to your particular cancer type and stage. 

Chemotherapy medications work in different ways to kill cancer cells. The following categories are the main classes of chemotherapy drugs, but your doctor may recommend a medication that does not fit into these categories: 

• Agentes alquilantes: These stop cells from reproducing by damaging their DNA. 
• Antimetabolites: These interfere with DNA and RNA to stop cells from reproducing. They are often used to treat leukemia, breast and ovarian cancers, and cancers of the intestinal tract. 
• Antitumor antibiotics: These change the DNA inside cells to stop them from multiplying. 
• Topoisomerase inhibitors: These interfere with enzymes, a kind of protein in living cells. 
• Mitotic inhibitors: These prevent cancer cells from dividing. 

The most common method of chemotherapy treatment is intravenous (IV) infusion, but there are other ways to receive chemo.

• IV infusion: A needle is used to put a catheter, or thin tube, into a vein in your forearm or hand. An injection or pump pushes the drugs through the catheter into your vein. This can last from a few minutes to several days for a continuous infusion.
• Oral medications: You will be given a pill, capsule or liquid to swallow. You can usually take these medications at home. Your doctor will tell you exactly when and how much to take. You might have to take special steps, such as wearing gloves to prevent skin contact, when handling these medications. 
• Injections: Injections deliver chemotherapy directly into your muscle or even into a tumor if it can be safely reached with a needle. 
• Intrathecal injections: With intrathecal chemotherapy, medications are injected into the fluid-filled space between the layers of tissue covering your brain and spinal cord. You typically receive intrathecal injections via a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, where a needle is inserted into your spinal cord. 
• Intraperitoneal (IP) infusions: An IP infusion delivers medications to your peritoneal cavity, the space within your abdomen where your stomach, intestines and liver are located. 
• Intra-arterial (IA) infusion: IA infusions send medications into the artery supplying the organ where your tumor is. They can target specific areas, such as your liver, arm or leg, increasing the effectiveness of the treatment while reducing damage to healthy cells throughout your body. 
• Topical medications: This category includes creams, ointments and gels applied directly to the skin. You might need to take special precautions, such as wearing gloves, to apply them. 

Your oncologist will tailor the frequency of your treatments to your diagnosis and treatment needs.

Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles, and people often need several cycles during their treatment. A cycle includes the days you receive treatment and a rest period that gives your body time to recover.

Cycles can vary in length, and the number of days you receive treatments will depend on your plan. For example, during a four-week (28-day) cycle, you may receive treatments daily for the first three days of the cycle, and the following 25 days would be rest days. During a three-week (21-day) cycle, you may receive treatment on days 1 and 8, with the remaining 13 days being rest days before the next cycle begins. 

You will typically receive treatment at an outpatient clinic or treatment center. In some cases, you might have to stay in the hospital for a night or two. Some oral, intravenous and injectable treatments can be given at home.