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Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Pancreatic Cancer
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Chemotherapy to Treat Pancreatic Cancer

Chemotherapy involves using drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used alone, or in combination with other treatments, to treat pancreatic cancer.

The method of administration varies, depending upon the type of drug. In some cases, chemotherapy drugs are delivered through a needle in a vein, which is known as intravenous, or IV. Other drugs can be swallowed (oral). Chemotherapy may be administered on an outpatient basis or during a stay in the hospital.

Because chemotherapy drugs travel through the bloodstream to every system of the body, chemotherapy is a systemic treatment. Widespread movement of the drugs throughout the body can cause many different side effects.

Cancer cells divide very rapidly. Chemotherapy drugs destroy cancer cells because they target cells that are dividing rapidly. However, there are many types of beneficial cells in the body that also divide rapidly and these cells can also be negatively affected by chemotherapy. Some of these cells and the side effects include the following:

• Lining of digestive tract–nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, mouth sores
• Hair roots–loss of hair
• Blood cells–anemia (weakening of red blood cells' ability to carry oxygen), reduced blood clotting ability, and reduced immune (disease-fighting) response

Medicines and other treatments can help reduce side effects of chemotherapy. Factors such as the patient's age and overall health, and the types and quantity of drugs can affect the severity of chemotherapy side effects.

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