Care for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

- Conditions for Using Chemotherapy for Cancer Patients

• To treat cancer without other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used as the primary or sole treatment for cancer.
• After other treatments, to kill hidden cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used after treatments like surgery to kill any cancer cells that may remain in the body (adjuvant therapy).
• To prepare for other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used to shrink a tumor to make other treatments, such as radiation therapy and surgery, more effective (neoadjuvant therapy).
• To alleviate the signs and symptoms of the disease. Chemotherapy is used to relieve signs and symptoms of cancer by killing some cancer cells (palliative chemotherapy).