When it comes to fighting cancer, choosing the right treatment matters. Patients and families are often confronted with the challenge: Immunotherapy vs Chemotherapy which offers greater effectiveness and fewer side effects? As the field of oncology advances, hospitals provide cutting-edge therapy options tailored to each patient’s needs.
Here’s an in-depth look at how immunotherapy and chemotherapy stack up, their pros and cons, costs in India, and the advantages of getting treated at India’s best cancer hospital.
Chemotherapy: The Traditional Cancer Fighter
Chemotherapy uses potent drugs to kill fast-growing cancer cells throughout the body. It can be used for various cancer types and stages, as a primary therapy or alongside surgery and radiation.
How Chemotherapy Works:
- Destroys cancer cells by interrupting their ability to divide and grow.
- Affects both cancerous and healthy cells, leading to side effects like hair loss, fatigue, nausea, infections, and low immunity.
- Commonly given in cycles, allowing healthy tissues to recover.
Chemotherapy remains highly effective for many cancers and is often the first-line treatment, particularly for advanced and rapidly growing tumors.
Immunotherapy: The New Frontier
Immunotherapy harnesses the body’s natural defenses to recognize and attack cancer cells more precisely. It boosts or modifies immune function using various methods:
- Checkpoint inhibitors: Block signals that stop immune cells from attacking cancer.
- CAR-T cell therapy: Genetically engineered immune cells target specific cancer markers.
- Monoclonal antibodies: Attach to cancer cells and trigger immune attacks.
Benefits of Immunotherapy:
- Targets cancer cells, sparing most healthy cells often associated with milder side effects.
- Can offer long-lasting, durable responses.
- Improves outcomes in cancers like melanoma, lung, renal, and certain breast and bladder cancers.
However, not all patients respond, and side effects like immune over-activation may occur.
Which Is More Effective: Immunotherapy or Chemotherapy?
Cancer-Specific Effectiveness
- Immunotherapy: Shows higher success rates in cancers such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC with high PD-L1), renal cell carcinoma, and in some bladder and breast cancers. It may outperform chemotherapy for long-term survival and response rates in specific cases, especially for immunologically active (“hot”) tumors.
- Chemotherapy: Remains superior for rapidly progressing (“cold”) tumors and those where immunotherapy is less effective, such as some leukemias, lymphomas, and late-stage cancers.
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Combination Therapy
Recent studies reveal that using chemotherapy and immunotherapy together may increase both survival and response rates. The right choice depends on cancer type, genetic markers, patient health, and previous therapies.
Immunotherapy Cost in India
- The cost of immunotherapy in India ranges from ₹1,00,000 to ₹4,50,000 per session, depending on drug type (like pembrolizumab, atezolizumab), the number of sessions required, and individual cancer factors.
- Chemotherapy is typically more affordable per cycle, but total costs can add up for longer regimens.
Immunotherapy may require fewer sessions and deliver durable responses, making it a compelling option when clinically appropriate.
Why Valentis Cancer Hospital Is India’s Best for Cancer Treatment
Valentis Cancer Hospital delivers the latest in medical oncology offering both chemotherapy and advanced immunotherapy backed by evidence-based protocols:
- Multidisciplinary expertise: Specializing in personalized medicine, genetics, molecular diagnostics, and international standards of care.
- Tailored treatment plans: Every patient receives a plan based on cancer type, stage, biomarker status, and lifestyle needs.
- Comprehensive care: From diagnostics to surgery, radiation, supportive therapies, and aftercare—Valentis provides true end-to-end oncology services.
- State-of-the-art technology: Advanced labs, AI-powered imaging, and access to latest global drug therapies.
- Patient-centric approach: Nutritional, emotional, and psychological support throughout the treatment journey.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice
Both immunotherapy and chemotherapy are powerful tools in the fight against cancer. The decision depends on clinical diagnosis, biomarkers, stage, and individual circumstances. Immunotherapy is transforming results for many, delivering higher survival rates, long-lasting responses, and fewer side effects for selected cancers.
At Valentis Cancer Hospital, expert teams guide you to the best approach, blending medical innovation with compassionate care making it the leading choice for advanced cancer treatment in India.