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Medical Disability Advisor  >  Chemotherapy  >  Definition

Chemotherapy

Related Terms

  • Anticancer Drug Therapy
  • Cytotoxic Cancer Treatment
  • Injection

Specialists

  • Hematologist
  • Oncologist

Comorbid Conditions

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Factors Influencing Duration

The length of disability is highly variable, depending on the type of cancer being treated, the individual's general health and age, the type of drug(s) being administered, the dosage, the side effects of the treatment itself, and the schedule of administration.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
99 - Other Nonoperative Procedures
99.25 - Injection of Infusion of Cancer Chemotherapeutic Substance; Chemoembolization; Injection of Infusion of Antineoplastic Agent
99.88 - Therapeutic Photopheresis; Extracorporeal Photochemotherapy; Extracorporeal Photopheresis

Definition

Chemotherapy is the administration of drugs (antineoplastic or cytotoxic agents) that destroy cancer cells.

Chemotherapeutic drugs destroy tumor cells by several mechanisms, which include interfering with cell division, damaging the cell's DNA (the molecular structure that dictates cell growth and function), changing the cell's ability to absorb or release fluid (osmotic stress), or interfering with the ability of the tumor to develop its own blood supply.

Chemotherapy drugs may be administered intravenously or orally over a period of several weeks to several months. Three or 4 weeks between treatments are usually required for the body to recover from the effects of a single treatment. Multiple antineoplastic drugs may be used. When combined, they work more effectively together than as single agents (synergism) to destroy cancer cells.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor






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