Final answer:
Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer involving anti-cancer drugs that target rapidly dividing cells. Cancer treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, with side effects resulting from damage to healthy cells. Targeted therapies offer a more precise approach, reducing side effects and improving treatment efficacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that utilizes one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a chemotherapy regimen. These drugs are typically administered intravenously and may be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments. The drugs aim to kill rapidly dividing cells, both cancerous and noncancerous, which is why side effects such as hair loss can occur due to the impact on hair root cells.
Cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are chosen based on the type and location of the cancer, as well as whether it has spread. Surgery can remove tumors, while chemotherapy and radiation therapy aim to kill or shrink cancer cells. However, these treatments often affect healthy tissue as well, leading to side effects.
Researchers are striving to create pharmaceuticals that target the specific proteins involved in cancer, improving the efficacy and reducing the side effects of treatments. Targeted therapies are a more sophisticated chemotherapy approach that precisely aims at molecules distinguishing cancerous cells from normal ones, thus minimizing adverse effects.