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Chemotherapy (drugs that fight the spread of cancer cells) can be taken orally, via injection or topically (rubbed onto the skin). The length and frequency of treatment depends on the seriousness of the cancer.

Standard health insurance does not cover many cancer-related expenses, including costs of chemotherapy and many types of surgery. If you believe you may be at risk for cancer, a supplemental insurance policy from CancerPlans.com can give you the financial security you may need to pay for future cancer treatments.

Generally, a cancer patient will receive cycles of chemotherapy: the doctor will prescribe a period of treatment followed by a rest period that rebuilds healthy cells. Treatment might be administered for one week, while the rest period might last for around 3: together, the 4-week treatment and rest process would make up one cycle.

Depending on the type and stage of cancer, chemotherapy can cure the disease (destroy cancer cells permanently), control it (keep cancer from spreading any farther) or cut down on symptoms by shrinking painful tumors. Chemotherapy destroys healthy cells as well as malignant ones, so the “rest” periods (when healthy cells can grow back between treatments) are vital.

Chemotherapy can be used as a stand-alone treatment, but it is often paired with surgery or radiation in order to achieve the most lasting results.

(1) http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/chemotherapy-and-you/page2