What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Cytotoxic means toxic to cells. Cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs disrupt the way cancer cells grow and divide.
Most chemotherapy drugs are carried in the blood. This means they can reach cancer cells anywhere in the body.
Unfortunately, chemotherapy drugs also affect some of the healthy cells in your body. These healthy cells can usually recover from damage caused by chemotherapy.
When the healthy cells are damaged by chemotherapy, this can cause side effects.
What is radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to treat cancer. It destroys cancer cells in the area where it is given.
Some normal cells in the area can also be damaged by radiotherapy. This can cause side effects. These normal cells can usually repair themselves, but cancer cells cannot. As the normal cells recover, the side effects usually get better.
