If you have recently been diagnosed with cancer or know someone who has, the doctor or nurse may likely have recommended a certain type of treatment. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the type of cancer treatment given to a patient is chosen depending on:
- The type of cancer
- The stage of cancer
As well as these two factors, the doctor is also likely to take into consideration the patient’s age and any other health conditions they may have before deciding upon a treatment.
The type of treatment provided is largely dependent on what stage the cancer is at. This is because sometimes cancer treatment is designed to cure the cancer (curative), some are designed to stop the spread of cancer, and others are used to reduce the side effects of the cancer (palliative). Palliative and curative cancer treatments serve different purposes in managing cancer, with distinct goals and approaches.
While curative treatments are often prioritised when feasible, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments to support the patient throughout their cancer journey.
What are the different types of cancer treatment?
Various types of treatments can be used to help treat or relieve the symptoms of a patient’s cancer. Some patients may only ever receive one individual treatment, others may receive multiple treatments as their health or stage of cancer changes. The treatments patients receive will usually be advised by a nurse or doctor, with the idea of giving the patient their best possible outcome.
NHS Inform says that the following are common cancer treatments:
- Surgery: an operation to remove the cancer
- Radiotherapy: X-rays used to destroy cancer cells
- Chemotherapy: the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells
- Immunotherapy: the use of the immune system to help fight cancer cells
- Hormonal Therapy: reduces hormones in the body or prevents them from reaching cancer cells
- Targeted Therapy: destroys cancer cells, usually by affecting the cancer’s ability to grow
- Stem Cell & Bone Marrow Treatments: high doses of an anti-cancer drug, or support the patient’s immune system to fight the cancer
What is the difference between chemotherapy and radiotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer through which medicine is used to fight and kill cancer cells within the body. There are different types of chemotherapy and they all work in a similar way. Each type is designed to prevent cancer cells from reproducing, which then prevents the cells from spreading around the body.
Radiotherapy is thought to be the most effective cancer treatment, according to the NHS, and it is usually used in the early stages of cancer or after the cancer has started to spread. Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells.
The main difference between chemotherapy and radiotherapy is that, although both are designed to destroy cancer cells, chemotherapy uses drugs, whereas radiotherapy uses high volumes of x-rays/radiation to destroy the cells.
According to WebMD, this leads to another difference between the two treatments. Chemotherapy and its use of drugs mean that it is a systemic treatment, where the drugs work throughout the whole body and are administered via injections, infusions and oral medications. On the other hand, radiotherapy is a local treatment which means it is more targeted and directed to a specific region within the body to kill the cancer cells.
Despite the differences, Macmillan Cancer Support shares that the two treatments can be combined to create an effective treatment, this is called chemoradiation. Given the differences between the two therapies, the idea behind chemoradiation is that chemotherapy drugs are used to make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation, meaning that radiotherapy can destroy them. It is thought that using this combination of treatments can be more effective than having the treatments separately.
What is the difference between chemotherapy and immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer, say Cancer Research UK. This therapy works by supporting the immune system of the patient to recognise and destroy cancer cells. The patient may have immunotherapy on its own or combined with other cancer treatments. Immunotherapy is currently a standard treatment for some types of cancer and a trial treatment for other types.
Chemotherapy is a reactive treatment, in which the drugs used in the therapy are used to attack fast-growing cancer cells and, by putting drugs into your body, the aim is to get all the cells at the same time. On the other hand, immunotherapy trains your immune system to identify cancer cells with the main goal being that your body will be able to fight the cancer itself.
The key difference between chemotherapy and immunotherapy lies in how they work. Chemotherapy drugs are effective while they are in the body, directly attacking and destroying cancer cells. On the other hand, immunotherapy works by stimulating the patient’s immune system, which can continue to fight cancer even after the treatment has ended. As a result, chemotherapy tends to have a more immediate effect on cancer, whereas immunotherapy’s impact builds over time and can be more effective in the long run.
What is the difference between curative chemotherapy and palliative chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy can be used in two main contexts: curative and palliative. Curative chemotherapy aims to eliminate cancer from the body completely, potentially leading to remission and a cure. It’s often used for cancers that are diagnosed early and haven’t spread extensively. The goal is to eradicate the cancer cells and prevent them from returning.
Palliative chemotherapy is used when the cancer has advanced or spread, making a cure impossible. Its primary goal is not to eliminate cancer but to shrink tumours, relieve symptoms, improve quality of life and possibly extend life. This type of chemotherapy can help manage the side effects of cancer, such as pain, difficulty breathing or fatigue, making the patient more comfortable.
Palliative chemotherapy is typically recommended for patients with metastatic (stage 4) cancer, where the main focus is on symptom management rather than a cure. The decision to use palliative chemotherapy depends on aspects, such as life expectancy, the patient’s overall health and the expected benefits versus potential side effects.
Have you suffered chemotherapy negligence?
As medical negligence experts, we have experience handling cases relating to chemotherapy. An example of this is when a 77-year-old man received unnecessary chemotherapy. This happened when the hospital failed to diagnose his prostate cancer, and as a result, he was compensated £12,500. If your chemotherapy treatment has been negligent, we can support you through the legal process.
Contact Patient Claim Line today.