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Chemo and Radiation, in short actually mean CHEMOTHERAPY and RADIOTHERAPY respectively.Commonly Chemotherapy indicates the treatment of malignant diseases by using different natural or synthetic chemical compounds either by oral,topical or intravenous route.Mode of action of these agents are bit complicated but in short,they target the rapidly dividing tumor cells and destroy them sparing the normal ones.primarily the site of action is intra cellular nucleas where the chromosomes,containing DNA molecules,reside.few commonly used Chemotherapy agents are:CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE,METHOTREXATE VINCRISTINE,VINBLASTINE,DOXORUBICIN etc.few agents areaalso used in non-malignant conditions also e.g.METHOTREXATE is also used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis By the term Radiotherapy,generally the therapeutic appraoch by high frequency electro-magnetic waves,usually by gama-rays of any radioactive element is meant. By applying those radiation,the tumor cells are destroyed usually in malignant diseases with distant spread.Radiotherapy can be given to the patients from a machine(TELECOBALT,TELECESIUM etc),placing tiny pieces of radioactive agents in the body(BRACHYTHERAPY). In few occassions,radioactive agent are used in nonmalignant conditions as in GRAVES DISEASE where 131-iodine is used. As therapeutic practice,both the modalities are used to treat malignant condition with or without distant spread,either single or in combination when surgery shows no promise.

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16y ago
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15y ago

Radiation therapy is the use of targeted radiation to destroy tumor cells, chemotherapy (=chemical therapy) is the use of drugs destroy rapidly dividing cells. They have their respective advantages and drawbacks. Radiation therapy has come a long way, and depending on the case, side effects may be pretty mild. Though since chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, all rapidly dividing cells are effected, and so for instance hair will fall out.

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14y ago

Some types of chemotherapies kill cancer cells in similar ways that antibiotics kill bacteria, but in the human body they are not the same. People with cancer, getting chemotherapy, can still get bacterial infections.

Scientists group types of chemotherapies according to how they attack cancer cells, and one group is called "antibiotic" chemo due to similarities in killing cells, but killing bacteria is not an intended or practical use of chemotherapy.

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12y ago

No. They are different treatments. Chemotherapy is treatment by chemicals (meds). Radiation may be applied for curative or palliative treatment.

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Q: Is chemotherapy and antibiotics the same?
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Related questions

Why fever in patients on chemotherapy may require immediate treatment with antibiotics?

because of fear of infection


What are four categories of chemotherapy drugs and describe their mechanism of action?

what are four categories of chemotherapy drugs and describe their mechanism of action..


Can you take antiviral and antibiotics at the same time?

Can you take antiviral and antibiotics at same time


What are antitumor antibiotics?

Antitumor antibiotics are made from natural substances such as fungi in the soil. They interfere with important cell functions, including production of DNA and cell proteins. Doxorubicin and bleomycin belong to this group of chemotherapy drugs.


Can you do chemotherapy treatment while on antiobiotics?

The answer to that depends on why you are on the antibiotics. Your oncologist will evaluate how sick you are, for example, do you have an infection that is bad enough to put you at significant risk if chemotherapy is given. If you are on an antibiotic for a mild upper respiratory infection it is likely that your chemo treatment can go forward. As with any decision about chemotherapy, the risk of the cancer growing versus the risk of giving the chemotherapy must be evaluated on treatment day.


What has the author John D Nelson written?

John D. Nelson has written: '1993-1994 pocketbook of pediatric antimicrobial therapy' -- subject(s): Antibiotics, Chemotherapy, Communicable diseases in children, Handbooks, manuals '1989-1990 pocketbook of pediatric antimicrobial therapy' -- subject(s): Antibiotics, Chemotherapy, Communicable diseases in children, Drug therapy, Handbooks, Handbooks, manuals, In infancy & childhood, Therapeutic use


Are terramycin and tetracycline the same kind of drug?

They are both antibiotics. However, they are from different classes of antibiotics.


How does Chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which can spread and divide quickly. Another way to explain this is to say chemotherapy typically refers to the destruction of cancer cells. However, chemotherapy may also include the use of antibiotics or other medications to treat any illness or infection. Chemotherapy acts by killing cells that divide rapidly, one of the main properties of cancer cells. This means that it also harms cells that divide rapidly under normal circumstances such as hair follicles, thereby resulting in hair loss of some patients.


Would Radiation and chemotherapy both fight cancer by disrupting cell division?

Yes. Chemotherapy and radiation use the same basic strategy of disrupting cell division. Chemotherapy uses drugs to disrupt. Radiation uses high concentrated beams.


Will a pregnancy test work properly if i am on antibiotics for a uti?

It should do because antibiotics and hormones are not the same thing. Having said that, I would leave it until you are off the antibiotics


What type of medicine do you take for colon cancer?

Treatment of colon cancer is strictly surgical, medications taken are during preparation for surgery (as antibiotics), & after surgery. Chemotherapy could be used for advanced stages


Can you use antibiotics and painkiller same time?

Yes. They do not work at the same site nor by the same mechanism.