Head and Neck Cancer

Understanding Lip and Mouth Cancer

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Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a method of treating cancer with drugs, often a combination of chemotherapy drugs are used. There are over 30 different drugs classified as chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy works by slowing or stopping the growth of new cancer cells. Unlike radiation or surgery, chemotherapy affects the whole body. Healthy cells can be damaged as well as the cancer cells. When chemotherapy is used to treat head and neck cancer is it usually in combination with radiation. It is possible that some people will require chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery to treat their cancer.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy is a term your Doctor may use to describe chemotherapy that is give along with your radiation treatment.

Chemotherapy is usually given as an intravenous infusion. That means the chemotherapy medications are given through an intravenous catheter directly into a vein. At PMH you may receive your chemo in the Chemo Day Care unit or in one of the inpatient units, 18B or 17A/B. At PMH there are information sheets about each chemotherapy drug, your nurse or doctor or pharmacist should give you the information sheet(s) for the chemotherapy drug(s) you are receiving. Side effects from chemotherapy can be very dangerous, it is important that you understand them. If you do not receive an information sheet for your chemotherapy drugs please ask your nurse to give you one. If you have any questions about your chemotherapy or the side effects always ask your nurse or doctor to clarify things for you.

Click here for more information about receiving chemotherapy at UHN.

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