Difference Between Radiation and Chemotherapy

Cancer itself is a dangerous disease, the name of which raises goosebumps. If it is treated properly, it can make a big difference in life. Several treatments fight these cancer cells and stop them from spreading. In most types of cancer, effective treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation are used to treat cancer. Both are different from each other but their goal is the same.

Radiation vs Chemotherapy

The main difference between radiation and chemotherapy is that the way of working of both is completely different, that is, the way of delivering to both is different. Both the remedies have their advantages and disadvantages. But both treatments are considered good treatment at their level. Both are designed to prevent cancer.

Radiation is designed for cancer. It is mainly treated through beams. The beam is then beamed over the tumor causing a change in the makeup of the DNA. Doing so shrinks and destroys it. This treatment is not as effective as it is limited to only one part of the body.

Chemotherapy is primarily designed to treat cancer. It helps in killing the growing cancer cells and prevents them from spreading. This medicine is mainly taken by mouth or in addition, it is given intravenously. Many different types of medicines come in this too, but it mainly depends on cancer, which type of cancer has happened. Sometimes they also have side effects and it depends on how your treatment is going.

Comparison Table Between Radiation and Chemotherapy

What is Radiation?

Radiation is a type of therapy used to treat cancer. In this, a beam is put on the tumor which is full of intense energy. This kills the cancer cells. In this therapy, doctors always use X-rays but other types of energy beams are used such as protons. The beam is then beamed over the tumor causing a change in the makeup of the DNA. Doing so shrinks and destroys it. This treatment is not as effective as it is limited to only one part of the body.

The term “radiation therapy” refers to external radiation therapy. In this type of therapy, high beam rays are entered into your body, which is emitted by a machine. This beam targets only a certain area of ​​the body. This beam is placed into the body through a procedure called brachytherapy (brake-ee-theer-uh-pee), which enables it to kill cancer cells.

Radiation therapy mainly destroys DNA so that it stops it from spreading. Sometimes healthy cells are also destroyed by it, which comes with its side effects. DNA works for cells to grow and divide, so it is necessary to destroy this control region. The normal cells that are destroyed by them are so capable that they can repair themselves.

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy as the name suggests is a type of therapy.  Primarily it is a type of treatment that has been designed for cancer.  In chemotherapy treatment, medicines are given to the patient through the mouth, in addition to this, it is also given through the veins. Cancer cells are destroyed through chemotherapy treatment.  This treatment also has side effects.

Chemotherapy is used for:

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the process of destroying a cancerous tumor with radiation therapy. The process of destroying the remaining cells is then called adjuvant chemotherapy.

In this treatment, it targets cells that divide rapidly and proliferate. Chemotherapy works throughout the body. But its side effect is also that it destroys the cells of the skin, hair, intestine, etc. The treatment of chemotherapy is very effective, so doctors never recommend skipping it. Although it has many side effects, it does not mean that it should be abandoned. For this, the doctor can change your schedule.

There is no certainty about the dosage of chemotherapy as lower doses will be less effective and higher doses will show side effects. In such a situation the patient feels unbearable. The doctor chooses the prescribed time to give the chemotherapy dose and also gives its quantity according to cancer and its condition.

Main Differences Between Radiation and Chemotherapy

Conclusion

Here we conclude that both treatments are designed for cancer but still different from each other. Radiation is a type of therapy used to treat cancer. In this, a beam is put on the tumor which is full of intense energy. This kills the cancer cells. Chemotherapy as the name suggests is a type of therapy.  Primarily it is a type of treatment that has been designed for cancer.  In chemotherapy treatment, medicines are given to the patient through the mouth, in addition to this, it is also given through the veins. Cancer cells are destroyed through chemotherapy treatment. Radiation has fewer side effects like hair fall, fatigue, skin changes, etc whereas chemotherapy has more side effects like anemia diarrhea, weakness, hair fall, fatigue, vomiting, etc.

References

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