Chemotherapy - GCSE History Definition

Chemotherapy is a medical treatment that uses powerful drugs to target and destroy cancer cells in the body. It is usually used when cancer has spread and can’t easily be removed with surgery. The drugs can be administered through a drip (into a vein) or as pills. Chemotherapy works by stopping cancer cells from growing and dividing. While chemotherapy can be effective, it often comes with side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, and nausea, due to its impact on healthy cells that also divide quickly. In GCSE History, chemotherapy is important because it shows how medicine improved in the 20th and 21st centuries. It is an example of how science and technology have helped fight serious diseases and improved healthcare for many people around the world.