What is chemotherapy used for?

Chemotherapy is specifically designed to treat cancer through the use of pharmaceutical drugs. These medications work by targeting and killing rapidly dividing cancer cells, which is a characteristic of tumors. Chemotherapy can be used as a primary treatment to eradicate cancer, as an adjuvant therapy to eliminate any remaining cells after surgery, or to shrink tumors before surgery. It is important to understand that while chemotherapy can have various side effects and may impact other rapidly dividing cells in the body, its main purpose is to combat cancerous growths rather than to treat infections, reduce inflammation, or relieve pain directly. Each of those conditions requires different treatment approaches tailored to their specific needs.