chemotherapy
Definition: Chemotherapy is the treatment of a disease using specific chemical agents or drugs.
Chemotherapy, when used for treating Lung Cancer, can be done preoperatively to reduce the size of the tumor(s) and kill microscopic cancerous cells prior to surgery. It can also be done postoperatively to kill any cancerous cells that may remain after surgery. Chemotherapy can also be used as a sole means of treatment or in conjunction with radiotherapy when surgery is not an option.
When chemotherapy is used in conjunction with surgery, it is called adjuvant chemotherapy. Its only purpose is to increase the success of surgery when surgery is used as a tool to cure the lung cancer.
Source: Tuberculosis by Diane Yancey and Lung Cancer by Lorraine Johnston
Also Known As: Cytotoxic therapy
Examples: One side effect to chemotherapy is hair loss
