Surgeons will try to leave no visible disease, if possible. Chemo given after the surgery is designed to kill any cancer cells that are in circulation that surgery may have missed. Although most chemotherapy is given intravenously, some drugs may be taken by mouth or put directly into the peritoneal cavity. Your physician will determine which route is best for your type of cancer. Many times, intravenous chemotherapy is given through a temporary catheter or port placed in a patient's chest.
Chemotherapy is treatment of cancer with strong chemicals.
Chemotherapy works by interfering with the growth and reproductive process of cancer cells. Chemo is designed to go after rapidly dividing cells. Unfortunately, these drugs can also attack rapidly dividing normal cells such as hair follicles and cells of the digestive and intestinal track. As a result side effects can occur. It is hard to predict what side effects a patient will have.