It is a term applied to medications used to treat cancer. Chemotherapy is systemic, which means that the chemotherapy reaches most of the body through the bloodstream. If cancer cells are hiding out in different places of the body, chemotherapy can reach most of these areas and kill the cancer cells.

How chemo can be given	Techinical term used	Shortened term
Into a vein	Intravenously	IV
By mouth	Oral	PO
Into muscle	Intramuscularly	IM
Under the skin	Subcutaneously	SC
By lumbar puncture	Intrathecal	IT

Chemotherapy drugs can't tell the difference between normal cells and cancer cells. As a result, many of these drugs affect normal cells and cause side effects.

Chemotherapy has to be carefully planned so that it progressively destroys the cancer cells during the course of treatment, but not the normal cells and tissues. It may be given intensively in high doses over a short period, or it may be given in lower doses over a longer period.

Chemotherapy drugs leave the body in body fluids. It is very important for your own protection that you wear gloves when handling body fluids during the time that your child is receiving chemotherapy and for a short while afterwards.