Both chemotherapy and treatment are common ways of treating cancer, and there are significant differences in mechanisms of action, treatment, side effects, etc.
Definition and mechanism for functioning
Chemothephy:
chemotherapy is a method of using drugs to treat cancer. These drugs are referred to as chemotherapy, and they work through:
Cell toxicity: chemotherapy can directly destroy the DNA of cancer cells and prevent their fragmentation and growth.
Cell cycle specificity: Some chemotherapy drugs are targeted at specific stages of the cell cycle, such as S (DNA synthesis period) or M (twisted period).
Immunization regulation: Some chemotherapy can enhance the immune system ‘ s attack on cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy:
The treatment uses high-energy rays (e.g. X-rays, gamma rays) or particles (e.g. protons) to treat cancer. The mechanisms for the treatment include:
Direct damage: The rays can directly damage the DNA of the cancer cell and cause cell death.
Indirect damage: The rays can produce free radicals, indirectly damage cellular membranes and DNA, and eventually lead to cell death.
Treatment
chemotherapy:
Systematic treatment: chemotherapy drugs usually enter the body through intravenous or oral injections, cycling through the blood cycle to the whole body, so that cancer cells that have spread far away can be treated.
Periodical treatment: chemotherapy is usually carried out in cycles, each including time of medication and rest to allow for physical recovery.
Rehab:
Partial treatment: The treatment usually involves precise exposure to the tumour area, with relatively small damage to the normal tissue around it.
Continuous treatment: Rehabilitation usually takes place every day for several weeks to accumulate enough radiation doses to kill cancer cells.
Purpose of treatment
chemotherapy:
Healing: For some blood cancers and lymphoma, chemotherapy may be the main treatment.
Assistive treatment: chemotherapy can be used to reduce tumours and prepare for surgery or treatment.
Palliative treatment: For late-stage cancer, chemotherapy reduces symptoms and prolongs life.
Rehab:
Healing: In the case of local tumours, therapeutic treatment can serve the purpose of healing.
Auxiliary treatment: The treatment can be used to eliminate cancer cells after surgery.
Palliative treatment: The treatment can alleviate pain and other symptoms associated with the tumor.
Side effects
chemotherapy:
Full body: Due to the effects of chemotherapy, side effects may include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, bone marrow inhibition (causing anaemia, increased risk of infection).
Long-term effects: chemotherapy can lead to long-term side effects such as heart problems, neurological damage, infertility, etc.
Rehab:
Locality: The side effects of the treatment are usually limited to the areas of exposure, including skin reaction, oral inflammation, edible inflammation, enteritis, etc.
Long-term effects: Release may lead to long-term side effects such as skin fibrosis, loss of organ function, etc.
Scope of application
chemotherapy:
It applies to various types of cancer, especially those that have spread.
For some cancers, chemotherapy is the preferred treatment.
Rehab:
It applies to local tumours such as brain tumors, lung cancer, prostate cancer, etc.
For some cancers, treatment is the only viable treatment.
Summary
Chemotherapy and treatment are two important means of cancer treatment, each with its advantages and limitations. chemotherapy is a systematic treatment that treats whole-body cancer, but with a wide range of side effects; it is a partial, relatively small but limited range of side effects. In practical applications, doctors choose the appropriate treatment according to the type, stage, overall condition of the patient and the treatment target, sometimes in combination with the chemotherapy and ex-healing associations, to achieve the best treatment. When receiving treatment, patients should be informed in detail about the advantages and disadvantages of treatment programmes and communicate closely with doctors to address possible side effects and challenges in treatment.
