Chemo

Hi, i wanted to know what the difference between chemotherapy and radiation is? Also, Patients inflicted with cancer, can they have children?

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Shahrazad, Chemotherapy is the use of any one or a combination of cancer-killing drugs given either intravenously (injected into the vein) or by mouth to attack cancer.  Radiation therapy is use of high-energy X-rays to attack cancer.  Chemotherapy can attack cancer throughout the body.  Radiation therapy attacks cancer in the area directly where the high-energy X-ray beams are targeted.  

It is possible for a person to have children after being diagnosed with cancer.   It is important to avoid becoming pregnant during the active treatment either with chemotherapy or radiation therapy because of the harmful effects to the baby.  The decision whether or not to have children after treatment for breast cancer is one that needs to be made after discussion with your oncologist and your significant other, in accordance with your personal situation.  It is generally recommended that pregnancy be delayed 2 to 3 years after treatment.  The delay is not because of the influence of the pregnancy on the cancer, but rather to delay childbearing until after the time of greatest risk of the tumor returning.