1. Chemotherapy Versus Radiation Defined
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. There are dozens of chemotherapy drugs, and the oncologist tailors the drug regimen to the specific type of cancer. Doctors consider chemotherapy to be a systemic treatment, as the drugs kill cancer cells that have spread, or metastasized, from the primary tumor to other parts of the body. Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells using high-energy X-rays. A machine outside the body or radioactive materials placed in or near the cancer are the two main sources of radiation therapy. Radiation is a local therapy, as it affects cells in the treated area.
2. Receiving Treatment
Patients can receive chemotherapy drugs in a hospital, doctor's office or at home. If a patient requires a continuous infusion of drugs, the doctor may send the patient home with a portable pump to permit the patient to carry on with his daily activities. Patients receiving external radiation therapy must go to the radiation oncologist's office for daily treatments. If the patient receives an internal radiation implant, a short hospital stay is usually necessary to place the materials.
3. Route of Administration
Doctors can administer chemotherapy drugs orally or by injection into a vein or muscle. Doctors give many chemotherapy drugs through a port, which is a tube placed in a large vein, which remains in place as long as the patient receives treatment. External radiation therapy comes from a machine similar to an X-ray machine. Doctors deliver internal radiation through implants that may resemble seeds, capsules or wires.
4. Frequency
Cancer patients may receive chemotherapy treatment every day, once a week or less frequently, depending on the drugs used. Doctors deliver chemotherapy in cycles, which allows healthy tissues a chance to recover. During the course of chemotherapy treatment, doctors monitor a patient's blood cell count to ensure that the platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells don't fall to a dangerously low level. Patients usually receive external radiation therapy every weekday for five to six weeks. The weekend breaks help normal cells recover. If a patient is undergoing internal radiation therapy, the doctor will surgically implant the radioactive materials in or near the tumor. Doctors may or may not remove the implant, depending on the material used to contain the radiation.
5. Side Effects
Chemotherapy drugs target fast-growing cells, and as a systemic therapy, the drugs can affect healthy cells in any part of the body. The healthy cells susceptible to chemotherapy effects include cells in the digestive tract, hair follicles and bone marrow. Common chemotherapy side effects include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, infection, bleeding and anemia. Radiation side effects target the cells in the treated area, but most patients experience fatigue. Hair loss isn't a concern unless a patient receives radiation to the head. Ask the doctor what effects to expect based on the body system receiving the radiation.
