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Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of medication to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the medications enter the bloodstream, travel through the body, and can destroy cancer cells outside the target area.

Chemotherapy may be taken by mouth (orally), or it may be given through a needle into a vein (intravenously, or IV) or a muscle (intramuscular, or IM).

Author Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Denele Ivins
Associate Editor Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD
- Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC
- Urology
Last Updated May 25, 2007

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: May 25, 2007
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