Chemotherapy

When chemotherapy is part of your cancer care plan, turn to the compassionate team at UC San Diego Health. Count on us to answer your questions and to provide treatments in a comfortable, supportive environment.

What’s Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs to kill cancer cells or keep reproducing cells from growing. Chemo may be the only cancer treatment you receive or part of a combination of other therapies. Your doctor may recommend chemo to:

• Shrink a tumor
• Make radiation therapy more effective
• Kill any cancer cells that remain after surgery or radiation therapy

Types of Chemotherapy

You may be given chemo by:

• Injection
• Pill (oral chemotherapy)
• Intravenously (IV), also known as infusion therapy and is the most common way to receive chemo
• In conjunction with surgery to remove certain abdominal tumors (HIPEC)