Chemotherapy is the process of using drugs that inhibit the growth or reproduction of cancer cells. Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells that is characterized by growth of tumors. In chemotherapy their are different methods that are used in the treatment of the cancerous cells.

Drugs used in chemotherapy differ in their structure and basically how they work. One group of the drugs used are known as the alkylating agents such as the daunorubicin that damage structure of the DNA of the cell thereby affecting the reproduction of the cancerous cells. The alkylating agents can be used to treat a number of cancers such as leukemia, sarcoma, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and breast cancer.

The other class of the cancerous drugs is the antimetabolites such as methotrexate that also works closely like the alkylating agents in that the DNA and RNA structure are substituted for their normal alignment of the normal building blocks

The other class of the anticancer drugs is the anthracyclines such as daunorubicin that affects the DNA by interfering with the enzymes that are involved in the DNA replication. This class of drugs works in all stages of cell cycle. The major limitation in the administration of this class of drug is that it can cause a permanent ruining of the heart in case it is given in high doses

The other class is the antitumor antibiotic that include the mitoxantrone that works similary to the doxoborium including the risk of permanent ruining of the heart in the long term or in case of its abuse.

The other is topoisomerase inhibitors that work through separation of strands in the DNA in order for them to be copied by interfering with the enzymes known as the topoisomerases. They are used to treat a number of cancers such as certain leukemias, gastrointestinal, lung and ovarian cancer.

The other is the mitotic inhibitors that are derived from plants alkaloids and other natural compounds. They work by inhibiting the mitosis or discouraging the manufacturing of proteins that are essential for cell production. This group of drugs work best in the phase M but damages the cell in all phases.

The other class of the chemotherapy drugs is the corticosteroids that are used to slow the growth or kill the cancer cells. This class of drugs are commonly used as anti-emetics that help in the prevention of vomiting and nausea that comes as a result of chemotherapy. They are mainly used before the chemotherapy process to reduce the hypersensitivity reactions and thus they are considered as chemotherapy. Its examples include dexamethason and methylpredisolone.

Other drug that are used as chemotherapy include drugs such as L-asparaginase which are protosome and enzyme inhibitor. Most of the chemotherapy drugs target the fact of that the cancer cells divide very fast these drugs ensure that they change the properties of the cancer cells thereby differentiating it from other normal cells.

The other class is the differentiating agents that make the cancer cells mature into normal cells. This ensures that the cancer cells do not divide rapidly and that they portray similar characteristic with the normal cells

In the treatment of cancer through chemotherapy caution should be taken in reaction with the body. The patients should be given the right doses to avoid the side effects such as of permanent damage of the heart. Also, compatibility of the drugs to the body should be considered during the administration to ensure minimum side effects like nausea and vomiting incurred.