Chemotherapy vs Immunotherapy: — What Is the Difference?

No. Targeted therapy works by blocking specific proteins or signals that cancer cells depend on to grow. Chemotherapy works by attacking all rapidly dividing cells regardless of those signals. They have different side effect profiles and different eligibility criteria — targeted therapy usually requires a specific gene mutation to be present in the tumour. The category your treatment belongs to is worth confirming with your oncologist, because the monitoring and warning signs differ between them.

The decision is based on your cancer type, its stage, biomarker test results from your tumour tissue, and your general fitness. It is not a choice between two equally available options — one may not be indicated for your tumour at all. For some cancers, the combination is what the evidence supports from the start. Your oncologist will explain which approach applies to you and the reason for it.

Yes. Several checkpoint inhibitors are approved by CDSCO and are used across India. CION administers immunotherapy as day care at its centres, with no overnight admission needed in most cases. Whether immunotherapy is appropriate for you is a separate question from availability — eligibility depends on biomarker testing and your specific cancer type, which your oncologist determines.

In some situations yes, and in others immunotherapy is given before chemotherapy or alongside it from the start. Prior chemotherapy does not automatically rule out immunotherapy later, but your current fitness, your test results, and how the cancer has responded to previous treatment all affect what is appropriate next. Your oncologist will assess this at each stage rather than applying a fixed sequence.

Hair loss is not a typical side effect of immunotherapy. It is common with many chemotherapy drugs because those drugs target rapidly dividing cells, and hair follicle cells divide quickly. Immunotherapy works through the immune system rather than that mechanism, so the side effects differ — skin rash and fatigue are more common than hair loss, though individual experience varies. Your team will tell you which specific side effects to watch for on your regimen.

Yes, and it is a reasonable question to ask directly. Ask them to name the category clearly: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or hormone therapy. Each has different side effects, different dietary considerations, and different warning signs to watch for. If your regimen includes more than one medicine, ask whether they all belong to the same category — combination regimens sometimes include more than one type, and the monitoring for each part differs.