Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. They enter the bloodstream and travel through the body. It may be used:

• After surgery—to kill any leftover tumor cells
• With radiation therapy if surgery can’t be done
• For cancer that spreads to the brain from other sites

Chemotherapy is most often given through an IV. It's done in cycles over a set period. But, most can't get to the brain because of the blood brain barrier (BBB). The BBB protects the brain from harm. It can make getting medicines harder.

Other methods to get chemotherapy:

• By mouth
• Intrathecal—Placed into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The medicines will be able to reach the tumor inside the BBB.
• Direct contact—A wafer is placed on or next to the tumor during surgery. The wafer dissolves over time.

Chemotherapy causes a range of health problems. The most common are:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Feeling tired
• Mouth sores
• Hair loss
• Loss of hunger
• Diarrhea
• Low blood cell counts—which can lead to anemia and neutropenia

There are many ways to manage these problems. Medicines and lifestyle changes are the most common. In some cases, the cycles may be changed to lower the chances of serious problems. Talk to your healthcare team as soon as these appear so they can be better controlled.