Chemotherapy is an important treatment for breast cancer: Chemotherapy is a treatment with drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells and prevent them from spreading to other parts of the body. The treatment usually uses two or more drugs and usually requires a hospital visit every 2-3 weeks. Chemotherapy is usually given as a continuous intravenous infusion. The course of treatment usually lasts 4 to 6 months. Because chemotherapy drugs go directly into the bloodstream, they work quickly throughout the body. Side effects of chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is often associated with many side effects. Because there are many chemotherapy drugs available and combined in different ways, a variety of side effects may occur for a particular treatment. It is important to discuss the various possible side effects in detail with your doctor before starting treatment. In women who have not yet reached menopause, this therapy may suppress ovarian function and cause menstruation to stop. Some patients experience nausea after receiving chemotherapy, and today, most doctors give patients anti-emetic medication to minimize this side effect. Another side effect is hair loss, and although it does not occur in every case and not all chemotherapy drugs can cause hair loss, it can be distressing to women who are not aware that it may occur. The effects are overwhelmingly temporary, and hair will grow back when chemotherapy is over. Some women may gain weight while on treatment, so careful diet control is recommended while undergoing treatment. During treatment, you may feel tired or depressed and it becomes important to discuss and share your feelings with your family, friends and the medical staff caring for you in the hospital. If your doctor has recommended chemotherapy, you will need to discuss all the alternative treatments and their side effects with him/her in detail before planning your treatment. Another side effect of chemotherapy is suppression of the bone marrow, causing a decrease in white blood cells, which may sometimes cause fever, infection, etc. If this is the case, colony-stimulating factors can be used to increase the white blood cells.