Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is medication-based treatment that uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of rapidly dividing cancer cells, including blood cancer cells. It can be given as tablets, injections or intravenous infusions, in cycles planned around the specific cancer type and how the body responds to treatment.
Understanding Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy works by targeting cells that divide quickly, which includes most cancer cells. Because some healthy cells, such as those in bone marrow, hair follicles and the digestive tract, also divide rapidly, chemotherapy can affect them too, which is why side effects like low blood counts or hair thinning can occur. Drugs are usually combined into a 'regimen', a specific combination and schedule chosen based on the exact type and stage of blood cancer.
In blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, chemotherapy may be used as the primary treatment, to prepare the body for a bone marrow transplant (called conditioning), or alongside newer approaches such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Treatment is typically given in cycles, with rest periods in between that allow the body's healthy cells to recover before the next round.
Not all chemotherapy is the same intensity. Some regimens are given entirely in an outpatient daycare setting over a few hours, while others, particularly for aggressive leukemias, require inpatient admission. Your haematologist selects the regimen, dose and schedule based on your specific diagnosis, disease stage and overall fitness.
What the treatment involves
Consultation and staging
Diagnosis is confirmed and the extent of disease is assessed through blood tests, bone marrow studies and imaging, which together determine the type and stage of blood cancer being treated.
Regimen planning
Based on the diagnosis, stage and your overall health, a specific chemotherapy regimen, dose and cycle schedule is selected, often following nationally and internationally recognized treatment protocols.
Pre-treatment preparation
Before starting, baseline blood counts and organ function tests are checked, and a central line or port may be placed if multiple cycles are planned, to make repeated intravenous access easier and safer.
Administration cycles
Chemotherapy is given according to the planned schedule, either in an outpatient daycare unit or as an inpatient depending on the regimen, with cycles typically spaced two to four weeks apart to allow recovery.
Monitoring and supportive care
Blood counts and side effects are monitored throughout treatment, with supportive medications for nausea, infection risk and other effects provided as needed to help you tolerate treatment.
Response assessment and follow-up
Periodic tests assess how the cancer is responding to treatment, guiding decisions about continuing, adjusting or completing the chemotherapy course, followed by scheduled follow-up after treatment ends.
Who this treatment may be considered for
What to expect
Many chemotherapy regimens are given in an outpatient daycare setting over a few hours per session, though some intensive regimens for acute leukemias require hospital admission.
Common effects can include fatigue, nausea, appetite changes, hair thinning and a temporary drop in blood counts that increases infection or bleeding risk; supportive medications help manage these.
Regular blood tests are done between cycles to check counts and organ function, and doses may be adjusted based on how you tolerate treatment.
Treatment duration varies widely, from a few cycles over several weeks to more extended courses over months, depending on the specific blood cancer and regimen.
Supportive care, including anti-nausea medication, growth factors to support blood counts, and infection precautions, is built into the treatment plan throughout the course.
Why choose AP Blood & Blood Cancer Centre
AP Blood & Blood Cancer Centre focuses exclusively on hematology and blood cancer care, allowing chemotherapy regimens to be planned and monitored within a dedicated clinical framework rather than as one of many oncology services.
Dr. Amarnadh Polisetty is a DNB-qualified clinical haematologist with over 7 years of specialist experience in managing hematologic malignancies, including chemotherapy protocols aligned with recognized national and international treatment guidelines, individualized to each patient's diagnosis and response.
Common questions about Chemotherapy
Medically reviewed by Dr. Amarnadh Polisetty, MD, DNB (Clinical Haematology)
Last reviewed on 1 July 2026
Have questions about a chemotherapy plan?
Consult a clinical haematologist to discuss a chemotherapy regimen suited to your specific diagnosis.