Chemotherapy is Not Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy and chemotherapy are both cancer treatments, but they work in very different ways. Chemotherapy attacks cancer cells directly using strong medicines that travel through the whole body. Because it moves everywhere, it can also affect healthy cells, which is why people may lose their hair or feel very tired or sick during treatment. Chemotherapy has been used for many years and can be very effective, but it can be tough on the body.
Immunotherapy works differently. Instead of attacking cancer itself, it helps the body’s own immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. You can think of it as giving your immune system better instructions or tools. Many people find immunotherapy easier to tolerate than chemotherapy, though it can still have side effects. This cartoon helps explain that while both treatments aim to fight cancer, they are not the same thing — and knowing the difference can make the journey a little less confusing.
