Cancer treatment has come a long way, offering patients more personalized and targeted options than ever before. Among the most common approaches are chemotherapy and immunotherapy—two powerful strategies that fight cancer in very different ways.
Understanding how each works and what to expect can help patients and families feel more confident when facing treatment decisions. At BASS Cancer Center, we’re here to guide you every step of the way with expert care and compassion.
Chemotherapy, often called "chemo," uses drugs to kill fast-growing cancer cells. Because it travels through the bloodstream, chemotherapy can treat cancer throughout the body. It’s a traditional and widely used option for many types of cancer.
Chemotherapy attacks cells that divide rapidly. While this includes cancer cells, it also affects healthy cells like those in the hair, mouth, and digestive tract—leading to side effects.
The impact of chemotherapy varies based on the type of drug used, how often it’s given, and each patient’s overall health.
Immunotherapy is a newer form of cancer treatment that helps your immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells. Instead of targeting cancer directly, immunotherapy enhances your body’s natural defenses.
Cancer can sometimes “hide” from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps expose cancer cells or boosts immune activity to attack them more effectively.
Immunotherapy may work better for certain cancers, such as melanoma, lung cancer, or some lymphomas. It’s often based on the genetic markers or molecular traits of the cancer.
Selecting between chemotherapy and immunotherapy—or combining both—depends on many factors:
At BASS Cancer Center, your care team includes medical oncologists, nurses, and support specialists who collaborate to design a treatment plan that’s right for you.
The future of oncology is moving toward precision medicine—using genetic testing and new technologies to personalize care. Advances in immunotherapy and combination treatments are opening new doors for patients once considered untreatable.
Researchers are exploring how chemotherapy and immunotherapy can be used together to enhance outcomes and reduce recurrence rates.
If you’re exploring cancer treatment options, you don’t have to make the decision alone. The experienced team at BASS Cancer Center will walk you through every step—from diagnosis to recovery—with personalized care and the latest in treatment innovation.
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