# Chemotherapy

  **Table of Contents**

 **Table of Contents** [About This Treatment](#section-overview "About This Treatment") [Cancers That May Benefit](#section-2301 "Cancers That May Benefit")

## About This Treatment

Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy that uses medications to kill fast-growing cancer cells or stop them from dividing. Depending on the diagnosis, chemotherapy may be used alone or alongside other treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Because it circulates throughout the body, chemotherapy can help treat cancer cells that have spread beyond the original tumor site.

Many chemotherapy drugs are available, and each works differently. Side effects can occur, ranging from mild to more serious, and your care team will carefully monitor your response and adjust treatment as needed.

Chemotherapy is administered under the direction of medical oncologists; physicians specially trained in diagnosing and treating cancer. After medical school, these specialists complete at least three years of residency and often an additional three-year fellowship in oncology. At The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, our physicians pair advanced medical expertise with a strong commitment to whole-person care, providing supportive services and resources to help patients and their families through every step of treatment.

## Cancers That May Benefit

 This treatment may be used to help manage or treat the following types of cancer, depending on each patient’s individual diagnosis and care plan.

[Breast Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/breast-cancer)

[Cervical Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/cervical-cancer)

[Colon Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/colon-cancer)

[Esophageal Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/esophageal-cancer)

[Kidney Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/kidney-cancer)

[Leukemia](/all-cancers-diseases/leukemia)

[Liver Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/liver-cancer)

[Lung Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/lung-cancer)

[Lymphoma](/all-cancers-diseases/lymphoma)

[Myeloma](/all-cancers-diseases/myeloma)

[Oral Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/oral-cancer)

[Ovarian Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/ovarian-cancer)

[Pancreatic Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/pancreatic-cancer)

[Sarcoma](/all-cancers-diseases/sarcoma)

[Thyroid Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/thyroid-cancer)

[Uterine Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/uterine-cancer)

[Vaginal Cancer](/all-cancers-diseases/vaginal-cancer)

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