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Immunotherapy Vs. Chemotherapy: What’s the Difference?

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There are various cancer treatments available. The type and stage of your cancer will determine how you are treated. A patient with some specific symptoms may be treated with just one type of treatment, whereas multiple treatments are given to others. 

Cancer treatment aims to eliminate your cancer and give you an average life expectancy. You can go to any cancer hospital in Bangalore when you require treatment to get the best care possible to beat cancer.

The cancer treatment will change depending on the type of cancer. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are two treatments for cancer that are frequently utilized. Drugs are used in both therapies to halt the spread of cancer cells. 

The procedure for both treatments, however, is distinct. Chemotherapy directly affects cancer cells to stop them from multiplying, while immunotherapy enhances the immune system’s ability to target cancer cells. Read this article to learn the distinctions between immunotherapy and chemotherapy if you need clarification.

What is immunotherapy?

Cancer cells are typically aberrant cells that expand out of control. And the aberrant cells can be eliminated by your immune system. So, in immunotherapy, medications are administered to boost your immune system’s capacity to detect and eradicate cancer. The primary objective of this therapy is to develop a set of T cells that are mainly directed against malignancy.

How does immunotherapy work?

Drugs for immunotherapy are administered intravenously, orally, or topically. Drugs can harm cells at the time of cell division and when the cells generate copies of their genes just before division. At different stages of this cycle, several medications are administered.

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a medicinal therapy that uses potent chemicals to kill your body’s rapidly proliferating cells. It is one of the most efficient therapies used in the best cancer hospital in Bangalore to treat a variety of cancer kinds. The therapy is also utilized to treat cancer, lessen the body’s cell count, and reduce cancer symptoms.

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy can be administered in various methods, including neoadjuvant therapy, adjuvant therapy, curative therapy, and palliative therapy. The medication can be given topically, intravenously, intramuscularly, intravenously into an artery, intravenously into the abdominal cavity, or intravenously into the fluid between your brain and spinal cord.

Differences between chemotherapy and immunotherapy 

Effectiveness 

The treatment’s increased immune strength over cancer cells makes it more long-lasting and useful, so immunotherapy is still effective after the treatment. But chemotherapy treatments continue as long as the patient takes the medications.

Duration of action 

Chemotherapy prevents the spread of cancer cells so long as the medications are in the body and immediately affect the cancer cells. The immune system is stimulated during immunotherapy, which prolongs the immune system’s effectiveness even after the treatment, although it takes time to kill cancer cells.

Cancer type 

Chemotherapy is used by oncologists to manage cancer before surgery and helps slow the progression of advanced cancers. However, immunotherapy strengthens the immune system, which is helpful for all cancer types.

Side effects 

The side effects of chemotherapy include exhaustion, hair loss, bruising and bleeding, anemia, changes in appetite, sores on the mouth, tongue, and neck, nerve problems, weight fluctuations, mood swings, and problems conceiving. 

Immunotherapy can cause various adverse reactions, including fever, chills, weakness, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, exhaustion, headaches, high or low blood pressure, and more.

Summary 

Two widely utilized medication therapies for cancer treatment include immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The cost of the two therapies varies based on the type of cancer, the treatment length, and the treatment distribution. You may have gained a better grasp of the therapies thanks to the differences between the two treatments described in this article.