Skip to main content

Barwon Health / Cancer Services

(03) 4215 2700

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug most commonly given intravenously (into a vein). It can also be taken as a pill, given through injections into a muscle or under the skin. Some skin cancers can be treated topically by applying a chemotherapy cream to the skin. While they may be given differently, all chemotherapy drugs travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells.

Chemotherapy works by destroying or slowing the growth of cancer cells, or making them sensitive to radiation.

The main advantage of chemotherapy is, by putting the drugs directly into your bloodstream, it treats your entire body. Therefore, any cancer cells that may have spread from the original cancer can be treated.

 

Last Modified: Monday, 24 June 2019