Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to
chemo and sometimes
CTX or
CTx) is a category of
cancer treatment that uses
chemical substances, especially one or more anti-cancer drugs (
chemotherapeutic agents) that are given as part of a standardized
chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherapy may be given with a
curative intent, or it may aim to prolong life or to
reduce symptoms (palliative chemotherapy). Along with
hormonal therapy and
targeted therapy, it is one of the major categories of medical oncology (
pharmacotherapy for cancer). These modalities are often used in conjunction with other cancer treatments, such as
radiation therapy,
surgery, and/or
hyperthermia therapy. Chemotherapy is also used to treat other conditions, including
AL amyloidosis,
ankylosing spondylitis,
multiple sclerosis,
Crohn's disease,
psoriasis,
psoriatic arthritis,
systemic lupus erythematosus,
rheumatoid arthritis, and
scleroderma.
