What is the difference between radiation therapy and chemotherapy?

The biggest difference between radiotherapy and chemotherapy lies in the fact that radiotherapy is a physical treatment method, whereas chemotherapy is a chemical treatment method. Other differences include the underlying principles, methods of administration, treatment scope, and adverse reactions associated with each therapy.

Radiotherapy refers to the clinical treatment method that uses radiation to treat tumors and is a form of physical therapy. It can be used to treat solid tumors throughout the body and certain hematologic malignancies. Radiotherapy can play an important role in curative treatment, palliative symptom relief, and comprehensive treatment combined with surgery. The primary adverse reactions are radiation-induced injuries.

Chemotherapy involves using chemical agents to kill tumor cells and is a chemical treatment method, usually administered via intravenous infusion or oral intake. It can be used to treat small cell lung cancer, malignant lymphoma, hematologic tumors, choriocarcinoma, and is more suitable for treating intermediate- and late-stage malignant tumors with metastasis. The main adverse reactions include bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal reactions, hair loss, and multi-organ toxicity.

Whether a patient is suitable for radiotherapy or chemotherapy depends specifically on the individual patient's condition and the recommendation of the physician.