Chemotherapy

FAQs & Patient Stories

Chemotherapy or chemo is one of the most common types of cancer treatments that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.

Below, find answers to popular chemotherapy questions and experiences of chemotherapy shared by The Patient Story community.

General Chemotherapy FAQ

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy or chemo is used to stop or slow down growth of cancer cells. It can cure or treat cancer, control cancer, and/or help ease the symptoms of cancer (palliative care).

Cure or treat cancer: This is when chemotherapy is able to destroy cancer cells to the point where your medical team cannot see or detect them in your body, and they do not grow back.
Control cancer: This is when chemotherapy is able to stop the spread of cancer, slows cancer cell growth, or destroy cancer cells in the spread to other parts of your body (metastasis).
Easing symptoms (palliative care): This is when chemotherapy is able to shrink down tumors that cause pressure, discomfort, and pain.

Who should get chemotherapy?

This depends case by case. Chemotherapy can be given alone, but many times it is used alongside other cancer treatments and therapies based on the cancer type and behavior.

How does chemo work alongside other therapies and treatments?

Used as a part of a treatment plan, chemo can act in multiple ways:

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Shrinks tumors before radiation therapy or surgery.
Adjuvant chemotherapy: Destroys cancer cells that may linger even after other treatment, like radiation therapy or surgery.
Chemo can make other treatments more effective.
Chemo can destroy cancer cells that have spread to other parts of your body (metastasis) or that have returned (refractory and relapsed cases of cancer).

Chemotherapy side effects

Chemotherapy works by using drugs to kill rapidly-growing cancer cells. That means it also kills or slows the growth of healthy fast-growing cells, like those in your intestines, scalp, and mouth lining.

This leads to many side effects, which usually lessen and disappear after you’ve finished chemotherapy.

For more on various side effects with different cancers, check out these cancer treatment side effect stories from our community.

Here’s a list of the most common (but not all) side effects:

Anemia
Appetite loss
Bleeding and bruising (Thrombocytopenia)
Constipation
Delirium
Diarrhea
Edema (Swelling)
Fatigue
Fertility issues
Flu-like symptoms
Hair loss (Alopecia)
Infection and neutropenia

Lymphedema
Memory, concentration problems (“Chemo Brain/Fog”)
Mouth and throat problems
Mucositis (mouth sores)
Nausea, vomiting
Nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy)
Immunotherapy and organ-related inflammation
Pain
Sexual health issues
Skin and nail changes
Sleep problems, insomnia
Urinary and bladder problems

Chemotherapy Stories and Experiences

Here are different experiences with chemotherapies and chemotherapy regimens, as told by our TPS community members.

ABVD

Get all the information about the ABVD chemotherapy regimen, used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. Here you’ll also find patient stories.

→ Read more

Adriamycin (doxorubicin)

Adriamycin, also known for the generic name doxorubicin, is a chemotherapy drug used for treating a variety of cancers. It is sometimes known as the “Red Devil” because of its bright red color and typically more harsh side effects.

Click here to go to our Adriamycin (doxorubicin) page

Cancers commonly treated:

Breast
Ovarian
Leukemia: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Sarcoma
Wilms tumor
Neuroblastoma

Adriamycin patient stories

Francina B.

Francina B., Breast Cancer, Stage 2B

Initial Symptoms: None
Treatment: Surgery (lumpectomy, removal of cancerous sentinel nodes); Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, paclitaxel); Radiation

Lauren B., breast and colon cancer

Symptoms: Lump in left breast that grew; strange appearance of nipple
Treatment:Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, complementary treatments

Joe F., Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors (DSRCT)

Symptoms: Mild abdominal pain, fatigue
Treatment:Surgery: removal of tumors, affected lymph nodes, spleen, part of diaphragm, omentum; Chemotherapy: vincristine, doxorubicin, ifosfamide; Radiation: whole abdominal radiation therapy

Callan R., Testicular Cancer, Stage 3

Symptom: Lump in right testicle

Treatments: Chemotherapy (cisplatin, doxorubicin, BEP, GemTaxol, TopCaT), surgery (orchiectomy), clinical trial (BNT142)

Chance O., Stage 2, Triple Negative, BRCA1+

Symptoms: Lump on breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, carboplatin), surgery (double mastectomy), radiation, radical hysterectomy (preventive)

BEP (Bleomycin, etoposide, platinum)

Cancers commonly treated: Testicular

Learn more about BEP chemotherapy →

Matthew O., Non-Seminoma, Stage 3C

Age Diagnosed: 24
1st Symptoms: Fatigue, one swollen testicle
Treatment: BEP chemotherapy, surgeries (including complications)
...

Hugo T., Non-Seminoma, Stage 2B

Age at Diagnosis: 21
1st Symptoms: Pea-sized lump on right testicle
Treatment: Surgical removal of right testicle, lymph node resection, chemotherapy

...

Steve L., Non-Seminoma, Stage 4

Age at Diagnosis: 25
1st Symptoms: Grape-sized tumor on neck; hip and pelvis pain; ultrasound revealed tumor on right testicle
Treatment: Chemotherapy (BEP), removal of right testicle, lymph node resection (RPLND), and tumor dissection in the neck
...

CAPOX (capecitabine, oxaliplatin)

Cancers commonly treated: Colorectal

Paul K., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3

Symptoms: Frequent bowel movements, loose stools, blood spotting in stool
Treatments: Chemotherapy (CAPOX), radiation, upcoming surgery (colon resection)

...

Nick S., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4A

Symptoms: Change in bowel habits, size & consistency, blood in stool, abdominal pain, fatigue
Treatment: Surgery (sigmoid colectomy), chemotherapy (capecitabine, oxaliplatin), immunotherapy (bevacizumab, pembrolizumab)
...

Stephanie K., Colon Cancer, Stage 3

Symptoms: Very bad cramps, bloating, indigestion, burping
Treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy (CAPOX)
...

Amanda G., Colon Cancer, Stage 2A

Symptoms: Gurgly stomach, blood in stool, chronic constipation
Treatment: Surgery (hemicolectomy), chemotherapy (CAPOX), Zarxio
...

Haley P., Colon Cancer, Stage 3C

Symptoms: Constipation, fatigue, shortness of breath
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy
...

Carboplatin

Cancers commonly treated:

Ovarian
Head
Neck

Ashley S., adrenal cancer

Symptoms: Swollen ankles, very low potassium levels
Treatment:Surgery (removal of tumor, open-heart surgery); chemotherapy (EDP, Cabometyx, Carboplatin, mitotane); immunotherapy (Keytruda); radiation
...

Courtney H., High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Stage 3C, BRCA1+

Symptoms: Noticeable body changes, fatigue and frequent napping, random abdominal pain, severe constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss

Treatments: Chemotherapy (carboplatin & paclitaxel), PARP inhibitor (olaparib), surgery (interval debulking, thoracoscopic thymectomy)
...

Gigi D., High-Grade Serous Carcinoma, Stage 1A, HER2+, PR+, ER-

Symptoms: Hiccup-like sensations behind the sternum, gastrointestinal issues, spotting

Treatment: Chemotherapy (carboplatin & paclitaxel)
...

Kirsty N., Stage 4 Squamous Cell

Symptoms: Persistent left flank pain, backache, fatigue, weight loss, traces of blood in urine, fluid in left kidney
Treatment: Chemotherapy (gemcitabine & carboplatin)
...

Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)

Cancers commonly treated:

LaShae R., IDC & DCIS, Stage 2B, ER+

Symptoms: Lump in breast, pain
Treatments: Chemotherapy (Taxotere and cyclophosphamide), proton radiation
...

Laura E.

Symptom: Increasing back pain
Treatments: Chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, bispecific antibodies
...

Christine E., Stage 3 Triple-Positive

Initial Symptom: Lump in left breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy (AC-T), lumpectomy, radiation
...

Renée F., Stage 2 Metastatic

Symptoms: Breast shaped differently, dimple in breast, flat nipple
Treatment: Chemotherapy, mastectomy
...

Eloxatin (oxaliplatin)

Cancers commonly treated: Colorectal

Jeff S., Stomach Cancer, Stage 4

Symptoms: None; found during the evaluation process for kidney donation
Treatments: Surgery (partial gastrectomy & nephrectomy), chemotherapy (oxaliplatin & capecitabine), radiation
...

Alli M., Appendix Cancer, Stage 4

Symptom: Severe abdominal pain
Treatments: Surgery (right hemisphere colectomy, appendectomy, HIPEC), chemotherapy (adjuvant chemo in 2014; after recurrence, 6 rounds of oxaliplatin with bevacizumab & capecitabine)
...

Elizabeth W., Colon Cancer, Stage 4

Symptoms: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), B12 deficiency, hypoalbuminemia

Treatments: Surgery (removal of left side of liver and small portion on the right), chemotherapy (oxaliplatin and xeloda)
...

Courtney H., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 3A Symptoms: Blood in stool, fatigue
Treatment: Chemo, oxaliplatin, capecitabine, surgery...

Etoposide

Cancers commonly treated:

Hugo T., Non-Seminoma, Stage 2B

Age at Diagnosis: 21
1st Symptoms: Pea-sized lump on right testicle
Treatment: Surgical removal of right testicle, lymph node resection, chemotherapy

...

Brandi B.,
Ewing Sarcoma,
Stage 1B (Soft Tissue)

Cancer Details: Adult case of soft tissue Ewing sarcoma, not bone sarcoma
1st Symptoms: Extreme fatigue, lump in pelvic area
Treatment: 17 cycles of chemotherapy in-patient at hospital with (leg-sparing) surgery in between
...

Caroline C., Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia & Placental Cancer, Stage 3

Symptoms: Morning sickness & an unusually high beta hCG

Treatment: EMACO chemotherapy
...

Jennifer P., Neuroendocrine Tumor, Stage 4, High-Grade

Symptoms: Pain in upper back
Treatment: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy
...

FOLFOX

Cancer details: Folinic acid, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin

Cancers commonly treated: Colorectal

Hannah R., Appendix Cancer, Stage 4

Symptoms: Bloating; fullness; UTIs; blood in urine; painful intercourse; high blood pressure; spotting
Treatment:Surgery (appendectomy, cytoreductive surgery); chemotherapy (FOLFOX, HIPEC); radiation to treat recurrence
...

Tracy R., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 2B

Symptoms: Bloating and inflammation, heaviness in the rectum, intermittent rectal bleeding, fatigue
Treatments: Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery
...

Ariel M., Appendix Cancer, Stage 4, High-Grade

Symptom: Sharp pain with gas & bowel movements

Treatment: Radical hysterectomy, chemotherapy (FOLFOX & FOLFIRI), PIPAC clinical trial (pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy)
...

Amy L., Colon Cancer, Stage 4

Symptoms Slight change in stool consistency
Treatment: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy
...

Kyle R.M., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4 Symptoms: Constipation, blood in stool
Treatment: Chemo, FOLFOX...

Fluorouracil (5FU)

Cancers commonly treated:

Melissa H., Stage 2B, Triple Negative

Cancer details: Triple negative doesn’t have any receptors commonly found in breast cancer making it harder to treat
1st Symptoms: Lump in left breast
Treatment: Mastectomy, chemotherapy, 2nd mastectomy
...

Alison R., Partially Differentiated DCIS, Stage 4 Metastatic

Cancer details: Triple positive = positive for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR)
1st Symptoms: Lump in underarm/breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, targeted therapy
...

Jackie S., Rectal Adenocarcinoma, Stage 3B/4, Lynch Syndrome

Symptoms: Blood in stool, constipation

Treatments: Chemotherapy (oxaliplatin & 5FU), radiation, surgeries (rectal resection, total hysterectomy, ileostomy), immunotherapy
...

Lee J., Colon Cancer, Stage 4, Recurrence

Symptoms: None; discovered stage 4 cancer from unrelated CT scan
Treatment: Neoadjuvant chemo (FOLFOX), hemicolectomy (partial colon surgery), adjuvant chemo (FOLFOX), chemo post-recurrence (FOLFIRI), liver surgery
...

Raquel A., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4

Symptoms: Frequent bowel movements, pin-thin stools, mild red blood in stool
Treatments: Chemotherapy (oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and irinotecan)
...

Gemzar (gemcitabine)

Cancers commonly treated:

Michelle R., Recurrent Bladder Cancer, Stage 1

Symptoms: Irregular occurrences of seeing streaks of blood in urine, specific type of pain when bladder is full, unexplained weight loss, urinary urgency, malaise, fatigue
Treatments: Chemotherapy (gemcitabine), surgery (TURBT: transurethral resection of bladder tumor)
...

Roger R., Pancreatic Cancer, Stage 2

Cancer Details: Found after Galleri blood test and MRI
1st Symptoms: None
Treatment: 5FU (folfirinox), Gemzar, NK cell expansion therapy, Dendritic cell expansion therapy, Neoantigen peptide vaccine

...

Nicole B., Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, Stage 3

Cancer Details: <5% of adult sarcomas
1st Symptoms: severe intolerance to food, nausea
Treatment: Cholecystectomy, Chemo (Gemcitabine and Taxotere), Whipple surgery
...

Herceptin (trastuzumab)

Cancers commonly treated:

Breast
Stomach
Esophageal

Lainie J., IDC, Stage 2, HER2+

Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation
...

Doug Blayney, MD

Oncologist: Specializing in breast cancer | HER2, Estrogen+, Triple Negative, Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy
Experience: 30+ years
Institution: Stanford Medical
...

Shari S., Stage 4, Metastatic, Triple Positive

Cancer details: Triple positive = positive for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR)
1st Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation
...

Renee N., IDC, Stage 3-4, HER2+

Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer.
1st Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomy, radiation
...

Idamycin (idarubicin)

Cancers commonly treated: Leukemia

Nicole T., Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

1st symptoms: Severe itchiness, night sweats, fatigue
Treatment: Chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant
...

Hayley A., Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), M5

Cancer details: Most common type of acute leukemia in adults
1st symptoms: Severe fatigue and excessive bleeding after oral surgery
Treatment: Chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant
...

Melphalan

Cancers commonly treated:

Cathy T.

Diagnosis: Myelofibrosis

Symptoms: None; caught at a routine blood test
Treatment: Stem cell transplant
...

Jenny A.

Symptoms: Nose bleeds, fatigue, back pain
Treatment: Chemotherapy, stem cell transplant
...

Samantha S., Relapsed Hodgkin’s

Symptoms: Fatigue, cough, enlarged lymph node
Treatment: ABVD chemotherapy (later changed to AVD), Brentuximab, Cyclophosphamide, BEAM chemotherapy, autologous bone marrow transplant
...

Valarie T.

Symptoms: Nose bleeds, fatigue, back pain
Treatment: Chemotherapy, stem cell transplant
...

Ray H., Multiple Myeloma, Stage 3

Symptoms: Hemorrhoids, low red blood cell count

Treatments: Immunotherapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant
...

Methotrexate

Cancers commonly treated:

Breast
Leukemia
Lung
Bone
Head and neck

Sara L., Crohn’s Disease (IBD)

Symptoms: bloody stool, loss of appetite, frequent bowel movement, severe pain
Treatment: Corticosteroid therapy (Prednisone); Tumor necrosis factor-alfa inhibitors (Humira , Remicade ); Chemotherapy (methotrexate); Immunosuppressive (Imuran ); Anti-inflammatory agent (Pentasa )
...

Meghan B., Crohn’s Disease (IBD)

Symptoms: Persistent diarrhea, blood in stool, stomach pain
Treatments: Remicade (infliximab), Humira (adalimumab), Methotrexate, Entyvio (vedolizumab), Surgery (proctocolectomy)
...

Harriet C., Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (DLBCL) Symptoms: Weight loss, difficulty walking, stomach pain, feeling unwell Treatment: Chemotherapy, EPOCH, methotrexate...

Sammie F., Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 4
Symptoms: Chest pain, back pain, bump on neck, night sweats Treatment: Chemotherapy, CAR T-Cell therapy...

Anna T., B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-ALL)

Symptoms: Heavy period for a few hours, fatigue, feverish, sweating, bruises on legs
Treatment: ECOG 10403
...

Navelbine (vinorelbine)

Cancers commonly treated: Lung

Ashley W., Desmoid Tumor

Cancer details: Rare, <3% of all soft tissue tumors, more common in women
1st Symptoms: leg tightness, increased swelling in leg
Treatment: Chemo infusion (Methotrexate, Navelbene), oral chemo (Nexovar)
...

Fabiola L., Hodgkin's, Stage 2BX

Cancer details: Stage 2 with bulky disease, relapsed after 1st chemo. Remission after 2nd chemo & bone marrow transplant
1st Symptoms: Shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue
Treatment: ABVD chemo (6 cycles), IGEV chemo, bone marrow transplant, BEAM chemo, brentuximab
...

Oncovin (vincristine)

Cancers commonly treated:

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Perjeta (pertuzumab)

Cancers commonly treated: Breast, HER2-Positive. Usually administered alongside other chemo drugs.

→ TCHP chemotherapy regimen

Doug Blayney, MD

Oncologist: Specializing in breast cancer | HER2, Estrogen+, Triple Negative, Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy
Experience: 30+ years
Institution: Stanford Medical
...

Doreen D., IDC, Stage 2A, Triple Positive

Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. Triple positive = positive for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR)
1st Symptoms: Lump in left breast
Treatment: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (TCHP), lumpectomy, radiation
...

Platinol (cisplatin)

Cancers commonly treated:

Payton G., lung cancer (adenocarcinoma with mucinous features)

Symptoms: Chronic phlegm in the chest; acid reflux; pain in the left side of her chest and back
Treatment: Surgery: complete lobectomy to remove the tumor; Chemotherapy (Alimta, Cisplatin)
...

Kate R., Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Origin, Stage 3C

Symptoms: Intermittent spotting during or after sex, unpredictable menstrual cycle, abdominal pain particularly under the rib cage
Treatments: Chemotherapy (cisplatin & paclitaxel), immunotherapy (Keytruda), surgery (total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy & omentectomy)
...

Michael W., Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer, Stage 4

Symptom: None; caught at routine neck CT scan

Treatments: Surgery, chemotherapy (cisplatin), radiation
...

McKenzie E., Cervical Cancer, Stage 3C2

Symptoms: Severe abdominal & back cramping, persistent & extreme pain, heavy discharge & bleeding

Treatments: Radiation, chemotherapy (cisplatin), brachytherapy, immunotherapy (Keytruda)
...

Heidi N., Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Stage 3A

Symptoms: None; unrelated chest CT scan revealed lung mass & enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes
Treatment: Chemoradiation
...

R-EPOCH

Complete overview of R-EPOCH

R – Rituximab
E – Etoposide Phosphate
P – Prednisone
O – Vincristine Sulfate (Oncovin)
C – Cyclophosphamide
H – Doxorubicin Hydrochloride (Hydroxydaunorubicin)

Taxol (paclitaxel)

Cancers commonly treated:

Taxotere (docetaxel)

Cancers commonly treated:

Breast
Lung
Prostate
Sto m ach
Head and neck

LaShae R., IDC & DCIS, Stage 2B, ER+

Symptoms: Lump in breast, pain
Treatments: Chemotherapy (Taxotere and cyclophosphamide), proton radiation
...

Nikki M., Stage 3 HER2+ Inflammatory Diagnosis: Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer Symptoms: Centralized pain around the nipple, inverted nipple, swollen breast, differences in nipple color, warm-feeling breast Treatment: Chemotherapy, single mastectomy, radiotherapy...

Renée F., Stage 2 Metastatic

Symptoms: Breast shaped differently, dimple in breast, flat nipple
Treatment: Chemotherapy, mastectomy
...

Lainie J., IDC, Stage 2, HER2+

Symptoms: Lump in breast
Treatment: Chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation
...

TCHP (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, Perjeta)

Cancer details:

Complete overview of TCHP

T – Taxotere® (docetaxel)
C – Carboplatin
H – Herceptin® (trastuzumab)
P – Perjeta® (Pertuzumab)

Cancers commonly treated: Breast (early-stage)

Rach D., IDC, Stage 2, Triple Positive

Symptom: Lump in right breast

Treatments: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, double mastectomy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy
...

Xeloda (capecitabine)

Cancers commonly treated:

Courtney H., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 3A Symptoms: Blood in stool, fatigue
Treatment: Chemo, oxaliplatin, capecitabine, surgery...

References

Chemotherapy

FAQs & Patient Stories

General Chemotherapy FAQ

How does chemotherapy work?

Who should get chemotherapy?

How does chemo work alongside other therapies and treatments?

Chemotherapy side effects

Chemotherapy Stories and Experiences

ABVD

Adriamycin (doxorubicin)

BEP (Bleomycin, etoposide, platinum)

CAPOX (capecitabine, oxaliplatin)

Carboplatin

Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)

Eloxatin (oxaliplatin)

Etoposide

FOLFOX

Fluorouracil (5FU)

Gemzar (gemcitabine)

Herceptin (trastuzumab)

Idamycin (idarubicin)

Melphalan

Methotrexate

Navelbine (vinorelbine)

Oncovin (vincristine)

Perjeta (pertuzumab)

Platinol (cisplatin)

R-EPOCH

Taxol (paclitaxel)

Taxotere (docetaxel)

TCHP (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, Perjeta)

Xeloda (capecitabine)

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