Is Chemotherapy Better Than Immunotherapy?

The choice between chemotherapy and immunotherapy depends on the cancer type and individual health. Consult an oncologist to determine the most suitable treatment, as they will evaluate your overall health and personalised factors for optimal care.

One of the most important decisions to make after having a cancer diagnosis is to select the right treatment plan. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are two of the most common cancer treatments. Although both therapies have been pivotal in the fight against cancer, they work in very different ways and have different results depending on the type of cancer and the overall health of the patient. The key question many patients ask is: Is chemotherapy better than immunotherapy? To answer this, it’s essential to understand how each treatment works, its benefits, side effects, and when one may be more effective than the other.

How Does Chemotherapy Work?

Chemotherapy is a common cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill fast-growing cancer cells. This treatment has potent chemicals to target cancer cells that multiply rapidly, either by shrinking the tumour or killing cancer altogether.

Key Characteristics:

Chemotherapy works systemically, meaning it affects the entire body. The drugs circulate through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells wherever they may be.
Chemotherapy is usually administered in cycles to give the body time to recover from the damage caused to healthy cells.
It works against a wide variety of cancers, including breast, lung, and colon cancers.

Benefits:

Chemotherapy can be used for many types of cancer and is often combined with other treatments like surgery or radiation therapy.
It is a quick way to target aggressive cancers because it directly kills cancer cells.

Side Effects:

Chemotherapy kills all fast-growing cells, including healthy cells like hair follicles and cells in the digestive system, causing side effects like hair loss, nausea, and fatigue.
The treatment can lower the immune system’s strength, leaving the body more vulnerable to infections.

Chemotherapy is a well-known treatment with a high number of success rates, but its effectiveness can be hampered because of its impact on the body. Immunotherapy may provide an alternative approach to this.

If you’re considering chemotherapy and want to understand whether it is right for your cancer treatment, it’s best to consult a medical oncology expert. Connect with the best oncologist in Mumbai today to receive a personalised treatment plan.

How Does Immunotherapy Work?

Unlike chemotherapy, immunotherapy doesn’t target cancer cells directly. Instead, it boosts the body’s immune system to recognise and fight cancer. The immune system is the body’s defence mechanism, and immunotherapy strengthens its ability to detect cancerous cells and destroy them.

Key Characteristics:

Immunotherapy works by stimulating the body’s immune response or using substances made in the lab to attack cancer cells. It’s more selective than chemotherapy, targeting cancer cells specifically.
In some cases, immunotherapy continues to work even after treatment has ended by “training” the immune system to recognise cancer cells.

Benefits:

Since immunotherapy targets cancer cells more precisely, it tends to spare healthy cells, resulting in fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy can provide long-lasting control over cancer in some patients, even those with advanced cancers.

Side Effects:

While the immune system is powerful, it can sometimes overreact, leading to autoimmune-like side effects such as inflammation, skin rashes, or digestive problems.
Immunotherapy is not effective for all cancer types, and in some cases, the cancer may be resistant to treatment.

Which Treatment Is Better for You?

Many factors, including what type of cancer a person has, the stage of cancer, and how well the cancer responds to treatment, help determine the best treatment. Given are the reasons why you should opt for one treatment over the other.

Chemotherapy: Cancers that are rapidly growing or widely spread may be recommended for chemotherapy. It is a proven treatment for cancers such as breast, ovarian, and colon cancers.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is often used for cancers where the immune system plays a major role, like melanoma or lung cancer. This treatment option can be used for patients who do not respond well to chemotherapy or as part of a combination therapy.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Despite chemotherapy being a commonly used intervention with a successful history, immunotherapy is a more targeted approach with fewer side effects. However, which one to choose depends on the type of cancer and individual patient conditions. For personalised advice on which treatment may be more appropriate for your condition, consulting a medical oncology expert is essential. Effortlessly book an appointment with the best oncologist in Mumbai through Apollo 24|7 today and get expert advice.