When your doctor mentions words like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy, it is normal to feel confused. The terms sound alike, but they work in very different ways. Here we explain them calmly and in plain words, so you can arrive at your next appointment with more clarity and better questions.
Why are there several types of treatment?
Cancer is not a single disease: there are many types, and each one behaves differently. That is why medicine has developed different tools. Some attack cells that divide quickly, others help the body's own defenses, and others block specific "switches" in the diseased cells.
Think of it like a toolbox: you don't use a hammer for everything. The oncologist chooses the tool —or the combination of tools— based on the type of cancer, its stage, and each patient's characteristics.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is medication that attacks cells that multiply quickly, which is exactly what cancer cells do.
A simple analogy: imagine chemotherapy as general pruning in a garden. It cuts back whatever grows too fast. The catch is that the body also has healthy cells that divide quickly —like those in the hair or the stomach—, which is why chemotherapy can cause side effects such as hair loss or nausea. The good news is that today there are supportive medications that help control many of those effects.
Chemotherapy can be given:
- Before surgery, to shrink the tumor.
- After surgery, to lower the risk of the cancer coming back.
- As the main treatment, alone or combined with other therapies.
What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy works in a very different way: instead of attacking the tumor directly, it helps the body's own defenses (the immune system) recognize and fight cancer cells.
The analogy: some cancer cells are like intruders who wear a disguise so the body's guards can't detect them. Immunotherapy takes the disguise off, so the defenses can see them and do their job.
Not all types of cancer respond to immunotherapy, and not every patient is a candidate. That is why, before prescribing it, the oncologist usually orders tests that analyze the tumor's characteristics.
What is targeted therapy?
Targeted therapy attacks very specific "targets": molecules or mutations that only the cells of certain tumors have (or have in excess), and that help them grow and survive.
The analogy: if chemotherapy is general pruning, targeted therapy is like a key that only opens one particular lock. Because it is so specific, it usually does less harm to healthy cells, although it has side effects of its own.
To find out whether a tumor has that "lock," special tests on the biopsy are often needed. That is why a complete diagnosis matters so much before deciding on a treatment.
When is each one used? Can they be combined?
Yes, and in fact combining them is very common. The treatment plan depends on several factors:
- The type of cancer and the organ where it started.
- The stage (how far it has spread).
- The tumor's biological characteristics (mutations, receptors).
- The patient's overall health and preferences.
The same patient may receive, for example, chemotherapy together with immunotherapy, or surgery followed by targeted therapy. There is no "best" treatment in general: there is the right treatment for each person and each moment, and that decision is always made by the oncologist together with the patient.
What questions can I ask my oncologist?
Arriving with written questions helps a lot. Some ideas:
- What is the goal of my treatment?
- Why do you recommend this therapy and not another?
- What side effects can I expect, and how are they managed?
- Do I need additional tumor tests before starting?
- How often will we check whether the treatment is working?
We are close by to walk with you
At the Unidad de Oncología Menonita, the Mennonite cancer center in Cuauhtémoc, we offer chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy, along with oncology consultations and diagnostic testing, so you and your family don't have to travel far for every treatment cycle.
If you or a loved one just received a diagnosis and want to understand your options, book an evaluation with our oncologists via WhatsApp at 614 120 2911. We will gladly answer your questions, without rushing and in your language.
Sources:
- https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/cancer/tratamiento/tipos
- https://www.cancer.org/es/cancer/tipos-de-tratamiento/terapia-dirigida/como-se-usa-la-terapia-dirigida.html
- https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/patientinstructions/000901.htm
This content is for information purposes and does not replace a medical consultation.