Chemotherapy—a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer
Chemotherapy puts cancer-killing drugs into your bloodstream.
To some people with breast cancer, chemotherapy can sound intimidating. But if your
healthcare provider has suggested chemotherapy, or simply “chemo,” you can feel
assured that this treatment decision is based on medical
science and what is right for your individual situation.
No matter what, you should be comfortable with your treatment plan. Always feel
free to get a second opinion about what treatment may be right for you.
Chemotherapy to treat breast cancer can be given in several ways:
- Intravenous (IV): Chemotherapy goes directly into a vein
- Injection: Chemotherapy is given by a shot in a muscle in an arm,
thigh, or hip, or just under the skin in the fatty part of an arm, leg, or belly
- Intra-arterial (IA): Chemotherapy is injected directly into the
artery that is feeding the cancer
- Intraperitoneal (IP): Chemotherapy goes directly into the peritoneal
cavity—the area that contains the intestines, stomach, liver, and ovaries
- Topically: Chemotherapy comes in a cream that you rub onto the
skin
- Orally: Chemotherapy comes in pills, capsules, or liquids
Because these drugs typically move throughout the body, they can treat cancers that
have spread to other organs.
When is chemotherapy used to treat breast cancer?
Chemotherapy is used mainly in 3 situations:
- Adjuvant chemotherapy. For treatment after surgery, to reduce the
risk of breast cancer returning, and to kill cells that may have spread. This therapy
may be able to kill cancer cells that other forms of treatment can’t find
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy. For treatment before surgery, to shrink
large tumors
- For advanced breast cancer. Chemotherapy can be used as the main
treatment
Chemotherapy is given in cycles, alternating between periods of treatment and rest.
Treatment can last several months, or even longer. Some cancers will respond to
therapy and some will not. Your healthcare team may adjust your treatment over time.
Chemotherapy can cause side effects.
Side effects vary from person to person. The side effects you may experience depend
on what type of chemotherapy is being given, at how high a dosage, and for how long.
Your healthcare team can tell you more about potential side effects and how to manage
them.
Download a cancer treatment journal
Find out more about managing
side effects
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