Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses powerful medicines to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth throughout the body. Given in planned cycles — usually as an outpatient — it may be used before or after surgery, alongside radiotherapy, or as the main treatment. Because it acts on rapidly dividing cells, it can also affect some healthy cells, causing side effects that the team actively manages.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Chemotherapy works against cancer cells throughout the body, which makes it valuable when cancer may have spread beyond a single site. It is delivered in cycles — a period of treatment followed by a rest period that lets healthy tissues recover — with the drugs, doses and schedule chosen for the specific cancer. Most chemotherapy is given as an outpatient, by infusion through a vein or, for some regimens, as tablets.
It is often part of a combined plan decided by a multidisciplinary tumor board. Chemotherapy may be given before surgery to shrink a tumor, after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence, together with radiotherapy, or as the primary treatment for cancers that respond well to drugs. Because chemotherapy also affects some fast-dividing healthy cells — such as those in the blood, gut lining and hair — side effects like tiredness, nausea, lowered blood counts and hair loss can occur, and supportive care is used to prevent and manage them.
International patients are supported by a coordinator with a clear plan and a transparent, itemized cost estimate before travel. Because treatment is given in cycles over weeks, the team explains which cycles are best done on site and how treatment can be continued or monitored after returning home, and specialists can review pathology and reports remotely.
Who is a candidate?
- People with a cancer that responds to drug treatment, alone or in combination
- Patients who may benefit from chemotherapy before surgery to shrink a tumor
- Those who may benefit from chemotherapy after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence
- People with cancer that has spread, where treatment works throughout the body
- Patients whose tumor board recommends chemotherapy as part of the plan
- People seeking a second opinion on a proposed chemotherapy plan
What happens
- 1
Diagnosis and planning
Pathology and imaging confirm the cancer type and stage. A multidisciplinary tumor board agrees whether chemotherapy is appropriate and how it fits with surgery, radiotherapy or other treatments.
- 2
Preparation
Blood tests check that you are ready for each cycle. For infusions, a vein or, in some cases, a small implanted port is used. The team explains the schedule and how side effects will be managed.
- 3
Treatment cycles
Chemotherapy is given in cycles — treatment followed by a rest period — usually as an outpatient. Each session may take from under an hour to several hours, depending on the regimen.
- 4
Supportive care
Anti-sickness and other supportive medicines, along with dietetic and psychological support, prevent and manage side effects to protect your quality of life between and during cycles.
- 5
Follow-up and surveillance
Scans and reviews assess the response during and after treatment. International patients receive a clear plan for continuing or monitoring treatment after returning home.
Benefits
- Acts throughout the body, valuable when cancer may have spread
- Can shrink a tumor before surgery or reduce the risk of recurrence afterwards
- Combines effectively with surgery, radiotherapy and other treatments
- Usually given as an outpatient, in planned cycles around daily life
- Supportive care actively prevents and manages many side effects
Risks & considerations
- Tiredness, nausea and hair loss, which vary by drug and are often manageable
- Lowered blood counts, increasing the risk of infection, which the team monitors
- Effects on the gut, mouth or nerves with some regimens
- Effects on fertility with certain drugs, which the team discusses in advance
- Side effects are individual; not everyone experiences the same ones
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Comprehensive Oncology Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Chemotherapy — frequently asked questions
Most chemotherapy is given as an outpatient, either by infusion through a vein — sometimes via a small implanted port — or as tablets. It is delivered in cycles, with rest periods that let healthy tissues recover between treatments.
It depends on the drugs used. Some cause hair loss and tiredness or nausea, while others have milder effects. Supportive care — including anti-sickness medicine — prevents and manages many side effects, and your team explains what to expect from your specific regimen.
Often, yes. Because treatment is given in cycles over weeks, your team explains which cycles are best done on site and how treatment can be continued or monitored after you return home, in coordination with your local doctors.
Yes. Share your pathology, imaging and proposed plan and our specialists provide an independent opinion before you decide on treatment or travel.
It is usually given in cycles over several weeks to months, with each session lasting from under an hour to several hours. Your coordinator explains which parts are best done on site and how follow-up continues. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing your case rather than a fixed online price, because every plan is individual.
Related treatments
Considering chemotherapy?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.