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Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
There are many different chemotherapy drugs. They are often given in combination, to fight different kinds of cells in the cancer.
Chemotherapy works best on rapidly dividing cells. It affects cancer cells more than normal cells, but healthy cells that grow fast can also be affected. These include the cells in your blood, mouth, intestinal tract, nose, nails, vagina, and hair follicles. This is why chemotherapy can cause side effects in these areas.
Chemotherapy is given directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous needle or port (an entryway under the skin into which a needle can be inserted), or by pill.
It may be given before surgery to reduce the size of the cancer.
It is given systemically (throughout your body) after surgery to kill cancer cells that may have been left behind.