It is normal for us to feel a great sense of fear and shock when we hear the word “cancer.” The same goes for the words “chemo” and “ radiation .” Perhaps you or a loved one has been prescribed these treatments. You may have many big questions in your mind about what these are, why they are done, and what the difference is between the two. Don’t worry. Let’s talk about this very simply and kindly today.
Why is this treatment done? What are the main goals?
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are two of the main methods used to kill or control cancer cells. Simply put, cancer is a condition in which cells in our body grow uncontrollably and spread to surrounding tissues. So the main goals of both these treatments are similar.
- Complete cure: The primary and most important goal is to destroy all cancer cells in the body and prevent the cancer from coming back.
- Control: Shrinking tumors, slowing their growth, or stopping or controlling the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body.
- Relief : In some cases, cancer cannot be completely cured. In such cases, the goal of these treatments is to reduce pain and other uncomfortable symptoms by shrinking the cancer. We also call this “Palliative Care .”
That means, even if the cancer cannot be cured, these treatments can greatly improve your quality of life and help you live pain-free.
How do these two work? Here's the main difference!
Although both chemo and radiation attack cancer cells, they are completely different methods. Understanding this difference will answer many of your questions about this topic.
Chemotherapy
Think of it this way: Chemo is a special type of medicine that travels throughout our entire body. This medicine is given as a pill or as a liquid (like saline) that is injected into a vein. This medicine gets into our bloodstream and travels throughout our entire body. Therefore, it can find and destroy not only the primary tumor where the cancer started, but also cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. Because it affects the entire body system, we call it a “systemic treatment.”
Radiation Therapy
Radiation is not a type of medicine. It uses a beam of high-energy rays, such as X-rays, to destroy cancer cells. Think of it like a large torch shining a beam of light very precisely on a single spot. This treatment is usually called a “local treatment.” This means that the rays are only aimed at the specific area where the cancer cells are. Therefore, it does not affect the entire body.
How do you decide what treatment you need?
This is the biggest question many people have. “Do I need chemo? Radiation? Or both?”
This decision is made by the medical team, led by your doctor . Several factors influence it.
- The type of cancer you have.
- The stage of the cancer, which is how far it has spread.
- The location and size of the cancerous tumor.
- Your overall health.
Often, doctors do not limit themselves to just one treatment method. To achieve the best results, a treatment plan may be developed that combines several methods, such as surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and newer treatments such as “targeted therapies” and “ immunotherapy .”
Don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions. Talk clearly about different treatment plans, their pros and cons. You have the right to understand everything.
What are the treatment methods?
Both of these treatments usually require you to come to a hospital or clinic on specific days and receive them over a period of several weeks or months. However, the length of time and method of treatment varies from person to person. Let's take a look at the different methods of providing these treatments.
| Type of treatment | Delivery method and description |
|---|---|
| IV (intravenously) | Giving medication directly into a vein through a cannula or a special tube (port). This is the most commonly used method. |
| Oral | Provided as pills or capsules that you can take at home. |
| Injection | Injecting medicine under the skin or into a muscle with a needle. |
| External Radiation | A large machine outside the body delivers high-energy rays only to the cancer site. You won't feel any pain. |
| Internal Radiation | Another name for this is brachytherapy. This involves surgically inserting a small radioactive seed into or very close to the tumor. |
| Systemic Radiation | Although this is not commonly used, radiation is sometimes given in a way that affects the whole body, like chemotherapy. This means it is given as a pill to swallow or as an injection into a vein. |
Let's also be aware of side effects.
This is the thing that scares everyone the most. Yes, when cancer cells are destroyed, some healthy cells around them may also be damaged. That causes side effects. But remember, these side effects vary greatly depending on the type of treatment, the amount, and each person. What works for one person may not work for another.
Some side effects that may occur in common with both treatments are:
- Tiredness
- Hair loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin changes (dry skin, redness, itching)
- Anemia, which means a lack of blood in the body
Difference in side effects
Because radiation is a local treatment, side effects are most common in the area being treated. For example, someone who receives radiation to the neck may have difficulty swallowing. Someone who receives radiation to the chest may have coughing or difficulty breathing.
However, because chemo is a systemic treatment, the side effects generally affect the entire body.
The most important thing is to tell your doctor or medical team about any side effects you experience, even minor ones . There are medications to control and reduce most of them. So don't keep anything to yourself and suffer.
Take-Home Message
- Chemotherapy is a treatment that travels throughout the body (systemic). Radiation is a treatment that targets only the specific location of the cancer (local). This is the main difference.
- The goal of both treatments is to cure, control the cancer, or provide relief from symptoms.
- The treatment plan that is right for you will be determined by your medical team based on the type and stage of your cancer, as well as your overall health.
- Side effects are common, but they can be largely controlled. Don't be afraid to tell your doctor about any discomfort you feel.
- You are not on this journey alone. There is a large medical team, including doctors and nurses, to help you and take care of you. So stay strong.
Cancer, Chemo, Radiation, Cancer, Cancer Treatment, Side Effects, Sri Lanka
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