Chemotherapy Treatment

The duration of chemotherapy depends on a number of factors. These factors include the type of cancer, the extent of the cancer, the type of drugs administered, and the anticipated toxicities of the drugs and the time needed to recover from these toxicities. Many programs of chemotherapy (including the type and duration of chemotherapy) have been determined through clinical trials in which comparisons were made and established what was most beneficial and what was to be better tolerated.

In general, chemotherapy is administered in cycles. This allows cancer cells to attack when they are most vulnerable and allow time for the body's normal cells to recover from damage suffered. There are really three aspects of the cycle time, cycle length, cycle frequency and the number of cycles.

Chemotherapy treatment may consist of a single drug or a combination thereof. The drugs can be given all in one day, several consecutive days or continuously to the patient or outpatient basis. Treatment may take minutes, hours or days, depending on the specific protocol.

In most cases, the number of cycles or duration of chemotherapy from beginning to end, has been determined on the basis of research trials and clinical trials.