Disadvantages of Chemotherapy

     As seen in the previous pages of this blog, chemotherapy definitely has its benefits. For instance, it can be used in a variety of ways (as pain relievers, adjuvents and neo-adjuvents) and is not restricted to the ways that it can be administered to patients (injections and oral medications can be provided in the hospital, doctor's office as well as in the comfort of the patient's home). Also, it has been proven effective in stopping the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the human body, and thereby an effective method in combatting this deadly disease. 

     However, though chemotherapy does seem to be an idealistic approach to curing cancer, it, too, has its downsides. For instance, the cost of chemotherapy can be highly expensive (The Disadvantages of Chemotherapy). With annual expenses of over $20,000 dollars (The Cost of Drugs: Breaking the Bank to Stay Alive), chemotherapy is not an easy cost to handle - even with health care insurance. 

     Furthermore, chemotherapy unfortunately does not kill cancer cells. Instead, it strives to kill any rapidly growing cell in the body (which happens to, therefore, affect cancer cells as well). Cancer cells are not foreign to the human body; they are not like a virus or bacteria. Thus, it is not truly possible to eliminate ONLY cancer cells using chemotherapy. For this reason, fast-growing, non-cancerous cells such as “cells in hair follicles, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes” are also affected through this procedure (Your Guide to Cancer Care), and patients may experience nausea, ulcers, mouth sores, and the most emotionally challenging - hair loss, during chemotherapy. 

     Other side effects include kidney problems, lung tissue damage, nerve damage and even infertility – all of which may not emerge until months after the procedure. Of course, as with most procedures, there is always a risk that the cancer might re-emerge after the treatment as well (The Disadvantages of Chemotherapy).  

     Thus, with the numerous physical and emotional effects of chemotherapy, it is possible that this treatment for cancer may not be as ideal as it appears to be; but medical science has not given up yet! Science is developing faster than ever before. Using the knowledge of chemotherapy and basic cell functions, science has invented an entirely new type of treatment for cancer: targeted therapy.