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How is chemotherapy given?

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The drugs usually need to get into the bloodstream to get to all areas of the body to reach any cancerous cell which may be present.

Intravenous chemotherapy
To get straight into the bloodstream, many cytotoxic drugs are given by injection directly into a vein ('intravenous' injection).

Sometimes each dose of drug is just injected into a vein from a syringe and needle.
Some drugs are put into a bag of fluid which then 'drips' into a vein through a small, thin plastic tube which is inserted into a vein in your arm or hand. This method allows the drugs to be diluted and they are less likely to irritate the vein as they get into the bloodstream. It may take several hours for a dose to 'drip' into the bloodstream. Small pumps are often used to make sure the solution 'drips' into the vein at exactly the correct rate.
In some cases a longer thin plastic tube is placed into a deeper vein. This can be a central line in a vein in your chest or a peripheral line in your arm (sometimes called a PICC line). It can be left in place for months until the course of treatment is finished. This means you do not need repeated injections. Drugs can be injected or 'dripped' through the line from time to time when a dose is due. This method of giving chemotherapy is being used more and more. You can also have blood samples taken via the line (which are often needed for testing during a course of chemotherapy treatment). Special care is needed to keep the line clean and free from blockage and infection.
Sometimes a prolonged infusion of a drug is given via a line over many days or even weeks.

Chemotherapy given by mouth
Some chemotherapy drugs can be taken as tablets or liquids by mouth and are absorbed into the bloodstream from the gut.
Other methods

Drugs usually do not get into the brain or spinal cord very well from the bloodstream. Therefore, to treat some cancers of the brain or spinal cord, drugs are sometimes injected directly into the fluid which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This is done by a 'lumbar puncture' when a needle is inserted into the space next to the spinal cord in the lower back.

In certain situations cytotoxic drugs may be given by injection into a muscle; as a cream which is rubbed onto skin; injected into the chest cavity, or even injected directly into a cancerous tumour.