Chemotherapy and Cancer Medicines
Chemotherapy and Cancer Medicines
Chemotherapy and Cancer Medicines
Cancer medicines treat cancer throughout the body. Unlike surgery or radiation, which focus on one area, cancer medicines can travel through the bloodstream to find and attack cancer cells wherever the blood flows.
Our cancer experts create a treatment plan tailored to your cancer type, stage, and goals. Your care team may include a medical oncologist, who specializes in treating adults with cancer; a pediatric oncologist, who specializes in treating children with cancer; a gynecologic oncologist, who specializes in cancers affecting the female reproductive system; or a neuro-oncologist, who treats cancers and other diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
In addition to Carilion oncologists, we also work with Blue Ridge Cancer Care and the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. Our partnership helps you access cutting-edge options through clinical trials.
Cancer medicines treat cancer throughout the body. Unlike surgery or radiation, which focus on one area, cancer medicines can travel through the bloodstream to find and attack cancer cells wherever the blood flows.
Our cancer experts create a treatment plan tailored to your cancer type, stage, and goals. Your care team may include a medical oncologist, who specializes in treating adults with cancer; a pediatric oncologist, who specializes in treating children with cancer; a gynecologic oncologist, who specializes in cancers affecting the female reproductive system; or a neuro-oncologist, who treats cancers and other diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
In addition to Carilion oncologists, we also work with Blue Ridge Cancer Care and the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. Our partnership helps you access cutting-edge options through clinical trials.
Some cancer medicines help destroy cancer cells. Others help stop cancer from growing or spreading. In some cases, medicines can also help lower the chance of cancer coming back.
Types of cancer medicines include:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used alone or together with surgery, radiation therapy, or other cancer medicines.
Not everyone with cancer needs chemotherapy. Your treatment plan depends on your cancer type and how it responds to treatment.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps your immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. These treatments can help the body attack cancer in new ways and may be an option for many cancer types.
Targeted therapy
Some cancers have specific genes, proteins, or other features that help them grow. Targeted therapy uses medicines designed to attack these cancer cells while causing less harm to healthy cells.
Your doctor may test your cancer to see whether targeted therapy could help you.
Hormone therapy
Some cancers use hormones to grow. Hormone therapy blocks or lowers these hormones to help slow or stop cancer growth.
Hormone therapy is commonly used for some breast, prostate, and gynecologic cancers.
Advanced and specialized therapies
Some cancers may be treated with newer therapies that use the immune system or blood-forming cells to fight cancer. These treatments may include:
- Stem cell transplant
- CAR T-cell therapy
- BiTE therapy and other cellular therapies
Your care team will talk with you about whether these options are right for you.
What Are Types of Cancer Medicines?
Some cancer medicines help destroy cancer cells. Others help stop cancer from growing or spreading. In some cases, medicines can also help lower the chance of cancer coming back.
Types of cancer medicines include:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used alone or together with surgery, radiation therapy, or other cancer medicines.
Not everyone with cancer needs chemotherapy. Your treatment plan depends on your cancer type and how it responds to treatment.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps your immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. These treatments can help the body attack cancer in new ways and may be an option for many cancer types.
Targeted therapy
Some cancers have specific genes, proteins, or other features that help them grow. Targeted therapy uses medicines designed to attack these cancer cells while causing less harm to healthy cells.
Your doctor may test your cancer to see whether targeted therapy could help you.
Hormone therapy
Some cancers use hormones to grow. Hormone therapy blocks or lowers these hormones to help slow or stop cancer growth.
Hormone therapy is commonly used for some breast, prostate, and gynecologic cancers.
Advanced and specialized therapies
Some cancers may be treated with newer therapies that use the immune system or blood-forming cells to fight cancer. These treatments may include:
- Stem cell transplant
- CAR T-cell therapy
- BiTE therapy and other cellular therapies
Your care team will talk with you about whether these options are right for you.
We use cancer medicines to treat many types of cancer, including:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Blood cancers
- Skin cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Gynecologic cancers
- Brain and spinal cord tumors
- Bone and soft tissue cancers
Different cancers respond to different medicines. Your treatment plan is personalized to your needs.
Cancer Medicines for Different Cancer Types
We use cancer medicines to treat many types of cancer, including:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Blood cancers
- Skin cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Gynecologic cancers
- Brain and spinal cord tumors
- Bone and soft tissue cancers
Different cancers respond to different medicines. Your treatment plan is personalized to your needs.
Cancer medicines can be given in different ways depending on your treatment plan. You may receive them:
- By mouth (pill or capsule)
- Through an IV infusion
- By injection
- Directly into a specific area of the body for some cancers
Your care team will guide you through every step of treatment. We monitor how well your medicines are working and help manage side effects throughout your care.
Depending on your cancer and treatment plan, you may receive cancer medicines:
- Before or after surgery
- Alongside radiation therapy
- Over a longer period to help prevent cancer from returning
- As ongoing treatment for advanced cancer
Your treatment plan is tailored to your cancer type, stage, and individual needs.
What Should I Expect?
Cancer medicines can be given in different ways depending on your treatment plan. You may receive them:
- By mouth (pill or capsule)
- Through an IV infusion
- By injection
- Directly into a specific area of the body for some cancers
Your care team will guide you through every step of treatment. We monitor how well your medicines are working and help manage side effects throughout your care.
Depending on your cancer and treatment plan, you may receive cancer medicines:
- Before or after surgery
- Alongside radiation therapy
- Over a longer period to help prevent cancer from returning
- As ongoing treatment for advanced cancer
Your treatment plan is tailored to your cancer type, stage, and individual needs.
Cancer care should be as unique as you are. We use advanced testing, the latest treatments, and a team-based approach to create a care plan tailored to your needs—from diagnosis through survivorship.
Why Choose Carilion Clinic?
Cancer care should be as unique as you are. We use advanced testing, the latest treatments, and a team-based approach to create a care plan tailored to your needs—from diagnosis through survivorship.
Patient Stories
She made me feel like I was important to her and my care was what she was focusing on."
That was the kind of care that you got. It went beyond treating a patient; it was more like treating a friend."
It was a wonderful experience. Cancer's not wonderful, but the experience, and the support, and the doctors, and their attitude, and how they explained things and supported you was just amazing. It really was."
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Get Care at Carilion Clinic
Your path to better health starts here. Explore comprehensive care options and find the support you need for every step of your wellness journey.
Get Care at Carilion Clinic
Your path to better health starts here. Explore comprehensive care options and find the support you need for every step of your wellness journey.
Get Care at Carilion Clinic
Your path to better health starts here. Explore comprehensive care options and find the support you need for every step of your wellness journey.
Get Care at Carilion Clinic
Your path to better health starts here. Explore comprehensive care options and find the support you need for every step of your wellness journey.