The five most common ways to give chemotherapy drugs during treatment for childhood cancer are as follows:

•  Intravenous (IV). Drugs are delivered directly into the bloodstream through a venous catheter in the chest or an IV in the arm or hand. IV medicines can be administered in a few minutes or as an infusion over a number of hours.

•  Oral (PO). Drugs, taken by mouth in liquid, capsule, or tablet form, are absorbed into the blood through the lining of the stomach and intestines.

•  Intracavitary/Interstitial/Implanted. Drugs are delivered directly into a body cavity through a catheter, or they are placed in a tumor bed in a form that will slowly dissolve.

•  Intramuscular (IM). Drugs that need to seep slowly into the bloodstream are injected into a large muscle such as the thigh or buttocks.

•  Subcutaneous (Sub-Q). Drugs are injected into the soft tissues under the skin of the upper arm, thigh, or abdomen.

•  Sublingual (SL). Some drugs are available as lozenges that dissolve quickly when placed under the tongue.