Visit our website to learn more about using Nucleus content for patient engagement and content marketing: http://www.nucleushealth.com/ MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: If you have cancer, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy as part of your treatment. Cells in your body grow and divide as part of the normal cell cycle. The nucleus of the cell controls this process. Inside each nucleus, genetic material called DNA contains the instructions for directing this process. Sometimes a cell's DNA becomes damaged. Usually, DNA responds by repairing itself or by instructing the cell to die. However, in cancer, parts of the DNA that direct cell division become damaged. When these sections are damaged, the DNA is unable to repair itself or cause the cell to die. Instead, the damaged DNA causes the cell to grow and divide uncontrollably into more damaged cells called cancer cells. As the cells multiply and crowd out normal cells, a tumor forms. When a tumor grows in size, it develops its own blood supply. Because cancer cells do not hold together as well as normal cells, they can break off and enter a nearby blood vessel. Cancer cells can travel through blood vessels to other areas of the body and form additional tumors. This is called metastasis. Additional tumors can form in areas such as the lungs, liver, and bones. Cancer can also spread to other areas of the body through the lymphatic system. Cancer cells can enter lymphatic vessels near tumors and travel to small glands called lymph nodes. If the cells get through the nodes, they can continue to travel through the lymphatic system and form additional tumors. Chemotherapy drugs work by attacking the fast-growing and reproducing cells that are common to cancer cells. The tumor shrinks as the cells stop dividing and die. Most chemotherapy drugs work systemically, traveling throughout the body through the bloodstream. These drugs, while circulating, damage metastatic cancer cells in other organs. Unfortunately, chemotherapy drugs cannot tell the difference between normal, fast-growing cells and cancer cells. As a result, these drugs also damage or irritate some normal, fast-growing cells such as those in the bone marrow, digestive system, and hair follicles. The death, irritation, or damage of these normal cells causes side effects such as a weak immune system, nausea, and hair loss. The goal of chemotherapy is to shrink or eliminate cancer cells in the original tumor and at sites of metastasis. In addition to being a primary treatment for cancer, doctors often use chemotherapy as a secondary treatment before, during, or after other primary cancer treatments such as radiation therapy or surgical removal of the tumor. Depending on the location and type of cancer, you may receive chemotherapy drugs that are meant to circulate through your body, including pills, capsules, or liquids taken by mouth, as well as intravenous or intramuscular injections. Alternatively, you may receive drugs applied only to the area of ​​the tumor. One localized method involves the drugs being delivered to your bladder or chest through narrow tubes called catheters. Another localized method involves injecting the drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. A third localized method involves placing slow-dissolving films on the area where a tumor was removed. In most cases, you will receive several different chemotherapy drugs to increase their effectiveness. You may receive many chemotherapy treatments spread out over a period of weeks or months. This allows your body to recover between treatments and kill as many cancer cells as possible. The most common side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, nausea, decreased appetite, fatigue, anemia, bruising, and diarrhea. It is important to rest, eat nutritious foods, and take the medicines prescribed by your doctor to reduce or minimize these side effects. ANH12072