Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy can be given by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle. In most cases, it is given to a patient through a vein during an outpatient visit. The drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body. This is called systemic chemotherapy.

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When chemotherapy is placed directly into an organ or a body cavity, such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in that area. This is called regional chemotherapy.

How chemotherapy is given depends on the stage of the cervical cancer. Almost all cervical cancer patients in good medical condition and receiving radiation for stage IIA or higher will be offered chemotherapy in addition to radiation therapy. The kind of chemotherapy you receive and the course (length) of your chemotherapy treatment will be determined by your doctor. In most cases, it includes a drug called cisplatin, which contains platinum and can cause kidney problems and hearing loss.

Chemotherapy affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. You may experience side effects from chemotherapy treatment such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, low blood count, bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries, numbness and tingling in the hands or feet, headaches, hair loss, and darkening of the skin and fingernails.