– Chemotherapy:
Originally derived from the deadly mustard gas that was used as chemical warfare in World War I, the oldest and most common type of chemotherapy used today are called alkylating agents, and most “groups” of chemotherapy fall under this umbrella term. Cancer is the mutation, uncontrolled growth and errant replication of cells that are exposed to an overload of chemicals, synthetics, heavy metal toxins and other carcinogens. Conventional medicine defines chemotherapy as a broad array of “chemotherapeutic” (CTX) drugs that impair cell division (mitosis) and target the “fast-dividing” cells, but chemotherapy alkylating agents are composed of nitrogen mustards and tetrazines, chemicals that lead to other cancers in the human body, so while “chemo” tries to stave off cell division, it promotes new cell division in other parts of the body, and impairs immunity by destroying healthy gut flora and the endocrine system. The “vinca” family of anti-microbial, plant-derived chemotherapy agents induce what is termed “cell cycle arrest” –which is more simply understood to be programmed cell death (aka apoptosis).
Most types of chemotherapy are delivered intravenously, although oral agents are widely used, including busulfan (another nitrogen agent and mustard gas derivative). Intravenous methods include vascular access devices such as catheters and implantable ports. Depending on the stage of the cancer and the type of chemo, some patients go from outpatient to inpatient therapy, and the risk of infection varies. Some isolated chemotherapies are actually infused directly into the liver or the lungs in an attempt to address tumor sites without “causing overwhelming systemic damage.” There are also topical therapies used to try to treat skin cancer (non-melanoma type). (2)
Chemotherapy-related toxicities can occur within hours after administration