Radiation Therapy & Chemotherapy - Differences You Need to Know
Cancer affects the building blocks of the human body. The treatments vary a lot from person to person and with the type of cancer. Each type of cancer is treated differently for different people as decided by the team of doctors. One can find the right treatment from the best cancer specialist hospital in India - which is a top-tier destination country for cancer cure.
The most common treatments that we hear of are radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Let’s try to understand the basic differences between the two:
Radiation therapy targets the part of the body where the cancerous cells have been detected. The aim is to reduce the effect of cancerous cells on the healthy ones.
Radiation does not kill the cells but damages the DNA of the cancer cells. The surrounding healthy cells also get affected but can heal themselves after treatment
The common side effects seen are fatigue, hair loss, infection, anemia, nausea and many more affecting the various organ systems.
The side effects of radiation only show in the affected area. The side effects could manifest themselves at an early or later stage.
The early effects are seen either during the treatment or soon afterwards and tend to be mild, short-term and treatable.
The late effects could occur at any time in the parts, which have received radiation.
Radiation has to be administered in controlled environment and can be done only at the hospital by an experienced oncologist doctor.
Patients are treated with either one or both forms in combination. The combination varies according to the type and grading of the disease. The approach varies for different patients and the right treatment is given at the best cancer hospital in India.
The most common treatments that we hear of are radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Let’s try to understand the basic differences between the two:
Areas Targeted
Chemotherapy uses specialized drugs, which target the cancerous cells throughout the body and not a particular part. It helps prevent the spreading of cancer to the rest of the body.Radiation therapy targets the part of the body where the cancerous cells have been detected. The aim is to reduce the effect of cancerous cells on the healthy ones.
Action of the Treatment
Chemotherapy affects all the cells in the body and hence causes side effects to the other parts as well.Radiation does not kill the cells but damages the DNA of the cancer cells. The surrounding healthy cells also get affected but can heal themselves after treatment
Side Effects
The side effects of chemotherapy are many and are seen in the affected parts as well as other parts of the body.The common side effects seen are fatigue, hair loss, infection, anemia, nausea and many more affecting the various organ systems.
The side effects of radiation only show in the affected area. The side effects could manifest themselves at an early or later stage.
The early effects are seen either during the treatment or soon afterwards and tend to be mild, short-term and treatable.
The late effects could occur at any time in the parts, which have received radiation.
Administration of Treatment
Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously, orally, through an injection or even direct skin application. It can be taken as an in-patient, out-patient or even at home.Radiation has to be administered in controlled environment and can be done only at the hospital by an experienced oncologist doctor.
Patients are treated with either one or both forms in combination. The combination varies according to the type and grading of the disease. The approach varies for different patients and the right treatment is given at the best cancer hospital in India.
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