Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used together or individually in cancer treatment. Chemotherapy is medication and radiation therapy uses high dose energy.

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and life changing. However, there are many treatment options that work to fight off cancer cells and prevent them from spreading.

Chemotherapy and radiation are among the most effective treatments for most types of cancer. Although they have the same goals, there are key differences between the two types of therapy.

  • Chemotherapy involves taking a medication by mouth or through an infusion into a vein or a medication port to kill cancer cells. Chemo is a type of systemic treatment, which means it affects the entire body.
  • Radiation is a targeted therapy. It involves giving high doses of radiation beams directly into a tumor, which can change the DNA makeup of the tumor, causing it to shrink or die.

While both types of treatments may cause side effects, chemotherapy generally causes more side effects because it affects the whole body.

Keep reading to discover more about how these treatments work, their differences, and potential side effects.

Chemotherapy medications are designed to destroy cancells cells in the body and prevent them from dividing rapidly, as well as prevent tumors from growing in size.

When you get chemotherapy, it’s usually given orally (by mouth) or intravenously (through a vein). The drug works by travelling through your bloodstream to kill cancer cells in any part of your body.

Chemotherapy is often given in “cycles,” which means it’s administered at specific time intervals — usually every few weeks — to target the cancer cells at a particular point in their life cycle.

Chemotherapy is considered an effective treatment for managing cancer. However, it can also cause a range of side effects, primarily because it’s a systemic treatment.

There are cells in other parts of your body that also divide rapidly but aren’t cancer cells, such as in:

  • hair follicles
  • nails
  • digestive tract
  • mouth
  • bone marrow

As such, chemotherapy often unintentionally targets and destroys these cells, which can cause several side effects. Some side effects of chemotherapy include:

The kind of side effects you may experience will depend on the type of chemotherapy you’re getting and any other health conditions you may already have.

Your oncologist (cancer doctor) will be able to determine what kind of chemotherapy medications will be most effective at treating the type of cancer you have.

With radiation therapy, beams of radiation are focused on a specific area in your body. The radiation changes the DNA makeup of the tumor, causing the cells to die instead of multiplying and possibly spreading.

Radiation may be used as the primary method of treating and destroying a tumor, but it can also be used:

  • to shrink a tumor before removing it with surgery
  • to kill any remaining cancer cells after a surgery
  • as part of a combined treatment approach with chemotherapy
  • when you have a medical condition that may prevent you from getting chemotherapy

There are three main types of radiation therapy used to treat cancer, including:

Since radiation therapy is focused on one area of your body, you may experience fewer side effects than with chemotherapy. However, it may still affect healthy cells in your body. Side effects of radiation may include:

The type of radiation you receive will depend on the type of cancer you have, as well as what your oncologist thinks will be most effective.

Chemotherapy and radiation both aim to help cure cancer, manage symptoms, or slow down its progression.

It’s difficult to determine which treatment is best for you, as it will depend on many factors, such as your age, overall health, and the type, location, and stage of your cancer.

In some cases, you may try one treatment first and then switch to the other. Oftentimes, chemo and radiation can actually complement each other and be given together.

When you meet with your cancer care team, your oncologist will provide you with options that will be most effective in treating your type of cancer.

What is harder on your body, radiation or chemo?

Generally, chemotherapy is harder on your whole body and causes more side effects because it’s a systemic treatment.

However, radiation therapy may cause more localized side effects to the affected area.

Chemotherapy and radiation are sometimes used together to treat certain types of cancers. This is known as chemoradiation.

A doctor may recommend chemoradiation if your cancer:

  • cannot be removed with surgery
  • is likely to spread to other areas of your body
  • isn’t responding to one particular type of treatment

Research also suggests that chemoradiation may be particularly effective for managing anal, cervical, lung, and bladder cancers.

According to the American Cancer Society, chemotherapy typically remains in the system for approximately 48 hours. This will depend on factors like your overall health and the dosage and type of chemo.

Radiation therapy typically gets out of your body more quickly, but systemic radiation may also stay in your body for a few days.

With both chemotherapy and radiation, there’s a high likelihood of experiencing some side effects.

Here are some tips to help you manage the side effects of cancer:

  • Ask your doctor about medications that can help treat nausea and vomiting.
  • Place an alcohol pad on the bridge of your nose if you’re experiencing nausea.
  • Eat popsicles to ease the pain from mouth sores.
  • Try drinking ginger ale or ginger tea to ease nausea.
  • Eat ice chips to stay hydrated.
  • Divide your meals into smaller portions, making them easier to eat. Focus on eating foods that are high in nutrients and protein.
  • Wash your hands frequently to prevent infection.
  • Try acupuncture.

Always talk with your healthcare team about any side effects you may have. They’ll be able to give you specific advice and instructions on what you can do to help relieve your symptoms.

Chemotherapy and radiation are two of the most common types of cancer treatments. Whether you receive chemo or radiation will depend on the type and location of your cancer, as well as your overall health status.

The major difference between chemo and radiation is the way they’re delivered and how they manage cancer cells in the body.

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment delivered through an infusion into a vein or a medication port, or it can be taken orally. With radiation therapy, beams of radiation are focused on a specific area in your body.

The goal of both types of treatment is to destroy cancer cells while minimizing the impact on the rest of the body. A healthcare professional can help you decide which treatment option is best.