Skin Cancer Chemotherapy
Learn More About Skin Cancer Chemotherapy: Chat with Us | Email Us
Chemotherapy for Skin Cancer
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), chemotherapy (chemo) is generally reserved for patients with advanced skin cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body. If chemotherapy may be an option for you, your care team at CTCA will work together to select the right type of chemotherapy and to develop an individualized treatment plan for you. Tumor molecular profiling may also be used to determine if your skin cancer has certain genetic changes that make it more sensitive or resistant to certain drugs.
Skin cancer chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells throughout the body. These drugs may be delivered intravenously, by injection or by mouth. They then travel through your bloodstream to attack cancer cells throughout your body, and for this reason your care team may also refer to chemo as systemic therapy. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles, to allow your body time to recover between treatments.
Proactive Management of Chemotherapy Side Effects
At CTCA, we know that some of the side effects of chemotherapy for skin cancer, such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss and mouth sores, can be very distressing. Therefore, your care team at CTCA proactively uses treatment strategies to reduce or moderate these chemotherapy side effects.
Your medical oncologist can provide a combination of medications to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. Additionally, your dietitian and other members of your team will work proactively with you to find the right combination of natural therapies to prevent or alleviate a wide range of chemotherapy side effects.
Next Topic: Immunotherapy for Skin Cancer
