What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemotherapy?

There are pros and cons of chemotherapy. Speak to your doctor or nurse about these, and what they might mean for you. You might find our questions to ask your doctor or nurse helpful.

Advantages

• Chemotherapy may shrink your cancer or slow down its growth, which may help you live longer and help with your symptoms.
• For a small number of people with borderline resectable cancer, chemotherapy may shrink the cancer enough to make surgery to remove the cancer possible.
• If you have chemotherapy after surgery, this may reduce the chances of the cancer coming back.
• You may have more regular check-ups, tests and contact with your doctor when you are having chemotherapy. Some people find this reassuring.

Disadvantages

• Chemotherapy can cause side effects.
• You will need to go to the hospital often for treatment, check-ups and tests, possibly on different days. This can be tiring.
• Chemotherapy affects everyone differently. It may not work so well for some people.