Chemotherapy vs. Radiation Therapy: Key Differences and Uses
Cancer is a major life-threatening disease causing major deaths across the world. Being diagnosed with cancer is highly overwhelming to handle. It's a life-changing time period for any human being. However, there are advanced treatments that cure cancer. Two popular treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, are mostly used to treat cancer. Sometimes these two treatments are performed alone or combined with surgeries depending upon the patient’s personal medical conditions.
Whether you are diagnosed with cancer and your oncologist has suggested treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy for treating your cancer. If you are wondering about the difference between radiotherapy and chemotherapy, then read on!
Understanding the difference between these two treatments might give you the confidence and strength to fight against your cancer. Knowing why you are undergoing these treatments and what you can expect from your cancer treatment makes you more informed about it, without losing your zest for life.
If you are worried about the difference between radiotherapy and chemotherapy, chemotherapy cost, radiation therapy cost, and the best cancer hospital in India for both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, then this blog is for you!
In this blog, we’ll explore more about chemotherapy vs. radiation therapy, side effects of chemotherapy vs. radiation therapy, and the cost difference of Oncare vs. other hospitals in India.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy, also known as ‘chemo,’ is an effective and common treatment for cancer available across the globe. In this procedure, cytotoxic anti-neoplastic drugs, also known as chemotherapy drugs, are used; these medicines are given orally or intravenously to the patients. This medicine destroys cancerous cells, and these medicines travel systemically throughout the body. Chemotherapy is a whole-body treatment, which is quite different from radiation treatment.
Chemo is a highly effective treatment, mainly for cancer. These treatments are specifically performed to kill cells that are cancerous and rapidly multiplying; these are often target-specific points in the replication of cells.
Side effects of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicines to destroy cancerous cells in the body. Chemo will also damage healthy cells in the process, which causes side effects to the patient's body. Side effects are typically common when you are undergoing a chemo procedure.
Chemotherapy is a powerful cancer treatment that fights against cancer, while chemotherapy can’t tell the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells, so it damages both healthy cells and cancer cells. When chemo damages your healthy cells, it leads to side effects.
These are the most affected parts of the body:
- Skin cells and hair follicles
- Cells in your mouth (mucosa)
- Digestive system
- Reproductive system
- Blood-forming cells in bone marrow (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)
The common side effects of chemotherapy
The side effects of chemotherapy mainly depend upon the chemotherapy drugs and their dosages, along with which normal cells are damaged.
The most common side effects of chemotherapy may include:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weak immune system
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Fertility issues
- Decreased sexual drive
- Frequent bruising and bleeding
- Kidney and urinary bladder problems
- Difficulty in eating
- Decreased blood count
- Skin changes
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is a common cancer treatment used to treat cancer in patients. In this procedure, a high dose of ionizing radiation is performed directly on the cancerous cells in the body.
Radiotherapy is primarily used to destroy the DNA of cancer-affected cells, either directly or indirectly, which leads to impaired cellular division or cell death in the affected body part. There are different types of radiation therapy used to treat cancer.
These may include:
- External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
- Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
Radiotherapy uses advanced technology to target areas with cancer that limits the damage caused to the surrounding healthy cells. This treatment is painless, which only takes a few seconds to minutes.
Side effects of radiation therapy
Cancer patients who receive radiotherapy for their cancer treatment might also experience adverse side effects. It happens when healthy cells are exposed to high doses of radiation, which is used to destroy cancerous cells. The side effects of radiotherapy mainly depend on the types of cancer and areas where your cancer or tumor has developed.
The most common side effects may include:
- Skin changes:
- Hair loss
- Decreased blood cells
- Fatigue and stiffness in the body
- Swelling (lymphedema)
- Decreased blood cells
The side effects of radiation therapies are usually short-term, and these conditions will improve after the treatment. These side effects might stay longer in some people.
Key difference between chemotherapy and radiation therapy
Cancer is a deadly disease where abnormal cells divide uncontrollably. Cancer can spread to surrounding healthy cells or other parts of the body. Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments are used for destroying cancer effectively.
Chemotherapy uses a drug treatment that uses powerful medication to destroy fast-growing cancer cells from the body. Meanwhile, radiation therapy uses high-energy X-ray beams to destroy cancer cells. Both treatments have the same goal: to eliminate or destroy cancer from the body.
Treatment-related side effects might change significantly, but unlike chemotherapy, the side effects are mainly affected and limited to the area where the body is undergoing radiotherapy.
Why choose Oncare Cancer Center for chemotherapy and radiation therapy?
Oncare Cancer Center offers experienced specialist consultation, discounted cancer medicine, and affordable treatment procedures like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and cancer surgeries without compromising the quality of clinical care.
Here are some of the special features of Oncare:
- Specialist consultation
- Transparency
- Affordable cancer surgeries
- Affordable chemotherapy packages
- Immunotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Expert teleconsultation (joint consultation)
- CT/PET SCAN
- Diagnosis
- Discounted cancer medicines
- Nutritional diet guidance
- Patient support and care unit
- Fast patient admission and discharge procedure (within 30 minutes)
Radiotherapy cost vs. chemotherapy cost: Oncare vs. other hospitals in India
Here’s the detailed comparison of radiotherapy cost at Oncare Cancer Center vs. other hospitals in India.
|
Radiotherapy cost at Oncare |
Radiotherapy cost at other hospitals |
||
|
Types of Radiotherapy |
Price |
Types of Radiotherapy |
Price |
|
IMRT |
1,20,000 to 1,80,000 |
IMRT |
1,80,000 to 2,50,000 |
|
IGRT |
1,80,000 to 2,00,000 |
IGRT |
2,50,000 to 4,00,000 |
|
VMAT |
2,50,000 to 3,50,000 |
VMAT |
3,50,000 to 5,00,000 |
Chemotherapy cost: Oncare Cancer Center vs. other hospitals in India
Chemotherapy costs at Oncare cancer centers are comparatively affordable when compared to other hospitals in India. Oncare cancer centers offer 20 to 40% lower prices than other hospitals in India.
The chemotherapy price at Oncare ranges from 12,000 to 14,000 rupees. Meanwhile, in other private hospitals in India, the chemotherapy cost starts from 25,000 to 40,000 rupees.
Cancer treatment costs: Oncare vs. other hospitals in India
Here is the accurate comparison of expected cancer treatment costs at Oncare vs. other hospitals in India.
|
Oncare Cancer Center |
Other Hospitals in India |
||
|
Treatment procedure |
Price |
Treatment procedure |
Price |
|
Chemotherapy |
12,000-35,000 |
Chemotherapy |
25,000-70,000 |
|
Targeted Therapy |
25,000-50,000 |
Targeted Therapy |
50,000- 100,000 |
|
Surgery cost |
75,000-5,00,000 |
Surgery cost |
2,00,000- 10,00,000 |
|
PET CT |
12,000 |
PET CT |
25,000- 40000 |
Oncare Cancer is the best cancer hospital in India, which provides access to various cancer treatments at affordable prices. We are committed to supporting and guiding our cancer patients to focus on their healing journey rather than worrying about their cost of cure.
Why should Oncare be your top choice of cancer treatments?
Oncare is one of the leading cancer hospitals in India, providing advanced cancer treatments and surgeries in an affordable price range with experienced specialist consultation. We are committed to serving cancer patients who are struggling financially. Our goal is to offer high-quality cancer treatments to all without compromising the quality of clinical care.
Conclusion
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are two integral cancer treatments, each serving unique purposes in fighting cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy mainly targets cancer cells all over the body, while radiotherapy focuses on cancer-affected areas with high-energy doses of radiation. Choosing the right doctor and right treatment depends on various factors, including the type of cancer, its stages, and the extent of tumor growth in the patient.
At Oncare Cancer Center, we provide specialist consultation to help patients. We help you to select the right treatment and offer guidance for your cancer journey.
Whether you or your loved ones need any specialized cancer treatment, trust Oncare Cancer Center and call us now; get an appointment today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Chemotherapy uses drugs that destroy fast-growing cells like cancer cells, but there's a negative side to chemotherapy. It can't identify which are the fastest-growing cancer cells and the fastest-growing healthy cells.
No, chemotherapy is not the same as radiation therapy. Chemotherapy majorly targets cancerous cells present all over the body. The chemotherapy drugs, such as cytotoxic medicines, are often given intravenously. Meanwhile, radiation therapy uses high-energy beams like X-rays or proton therapy to destroy cancer cells at specific body parts.
Combined therapy can often increase or decrease the risk of side effects, mainly depending upon the type of cancer, affected body part, and the regimens used in the procedure. Treating cancer often needs a holistic approach.
The common side effects of combined treatment of chemotherapy and radiation may include:
- Fatigue
- Frequent digestive issues
- Skin reaction
- Hair loss
- Pain
Undergoing cancer treatments like systemic chemotherapy comes with side effects of nausea, hair loss, and vomiting. But these side effects won’t happen with radiation therapy.
The symptoms of side effects often happen with radiation therapy if the radiation has been given to the stomach or scalp of your head.
The common side effects of radiation therapy often come with body parts being treated, the size of the area where radiation is delivered, and the dose of radiation given.