What is the treatment of a disease using chemical substances, particularly for cancer?

The treatment of a disease, particularly cancer, using chemical substances is known as chemotherapy. This method involves the use of various medications designed to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy works by targeting rapidly dividing cells, which is a characteristic of cancer cells, although it can also affect normal cells that divide quickly, such as those in the hair follicles and the lining of the digestive tract.

This treatment can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies to enhance its effectiveness and improve patient outcomes. It can be tailored to individual patients and is administered in cycles, allowing the body time to recover between treatments.

While radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy particles or waves to destroy or damage cancer cells, and surgery involves the physical removal of tumors, neither method utilizes chemical substances in the way chemotherapy does. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, employs the body’s immune system to fight cancer, which is also distinct from chemotherapy's approach of using chemical agents.