Chemotherapy is a word used to describe medicines which specifically fight cancer cells.

For a few brain tumours, chemotherapy is the main treatment but for others it will be given before or after surgery and / or before or after radiotherapy. Some chemotherapy drugs are taken orally, others are given intravenously.   

Chemotherapy can work very well to treat cancer. But while they kill cancer cells, the medicines can also damage healthy cells. The damage to healthy cells causes side effects. 

Short term effects include nausea, headaches, hair loss, joint and muscle pain, skin ulcers, anaemia and chronic fatigue. Many patients generally feel very unwell during treatment

Longer term side effects are also possible and different types of chemotherapy give different problems. These can include damage to the liver and kidneys, hearing problems, including deafness and infertility. 

Its important to have a summary of treatment (sometimes called a treatment passport), as this enables both patient and care providers to look out for possible side effects linked to specific treatments, and can help identify what should be done about them.