Updated on - 04 Feb 2026
Over the years, cancer treatments have evolved remarkably, yet chemotherapy continues to remain one of the most trusted and widely used approaches to treat various types of cancer. While the process can be challenging, it comes with numerous chemo benefits that are crucial in fighting the disease and improving patient outcomes.
This blog will take a closer look at the advantages of chemotherapy for cancer.
What is chemotherapy?
Also referred to as chemo, it is a type of cancer treatment. It uses the drugs to destroy cancer cells. These medicines target quickly growing cells in the body, helping to stop or slow their growth. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or targeted therapy to improve outcomes and enhance recovery.
Types of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can be classified based on its purpose and the method of how it is use. A few of the main types are as follows:
- Curative chemotherapy: This aims to eliminate cancer completely and achieve long-term remission.
- Adjuvant chemotherapy: This type of chemo is generally given after surgery or radiation to destroy remaining cancer cells.
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: This is administered before surgery to shrink tumours and make removal easier.
- Palliative chemotherapy: This is given to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life in advanced cancer cases.
- Combination chemotherapy: It involves using multiple drugs to enhance treatment effectiveness and reduce drug resistance.
Benefits of chemotherapy
Let’s dive into its key advantages and how it contributes to effective cancer management:
1. Destroys cancer cells
One of the primary chemo benefits is to target and destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells. It interferes with the cell cycle, which helps reduce the size of tumours or eliminate the cancer from the body. Modern advancements in chemotherapy have developed targeted therapies, which minimise damage to healthy cells while maximising cancer cell destruction.
2. Prevents cancer spread
Among the advantages of chemotherapy is the ability to prevent the spread (metastasis) of cancer cells to other parts of the body. Chemo can reach areas that surgery or radiation might miss by circulating through the bloodstream.
3. Shrinks tumours before surgery or radiation
Chemotherapy is sometimes used as neoadjuvant therapy to shrink tumours before surgical procedures or radiation treatments. For example, in breast cancer, shrinking tumours can allow for less extensive resection, improving the outcome and patient recovery.
4. Eases symptoms
In advanced cancer cases, chemotherapy can be used as palliative care to ease symptoms like pain or pressure caused by tumours. It can shrink tumours that cause pain, pressure or blockages in vital organs, improving the patient’s comfort and overall quality of life.
Role of health insurance in chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can be life-saving, but often comes with high treatment costs. Managing such medical expenses can put you in a financial burden that can be difficult to handle. This is where a health insurance policy becomes highly crucial. A well-chosen policy provides financial protection during treatment and ensures access to quality healthcare without delay.
Most comprehensive policies include plans that cover chemotherapy sessions, medication costs, hospital stays and doctor consultations, helping you reduce the financial strain on you or your family. Among these, a critical illness insurance plan provides a lump-sum payout upon diagnosis of a covered illness such as cancer. This helps patients manage not only treatment expenses but also any income loss during recovery.
In addition, health insurance helps patients access advanced treatments in reputed hospitals without delay. Some health insurance plans also cover cashless treatment options, allowing patients to receive chemotherapy seamlessly.
Having this financial protection is crucial, as multiple sessions over months can quickly add up to significant costs.
Conclusion
While chemotherapy may have side effects, its numerous benefits make it a vital tool in cancer treatment. The benefits of this treatment offer hope and improved outcomes for many patients. To enhance the treatment options, consult your doctor and ensure you also have comprehensive health insurance, as treating critical illnesses like cancer can be financially overwhelming. The appropriate insurance coverage further supports your treatment journey by reducing the financial burden, making these life-saving therapies more attainable.
FAQs
1. What is chemotherapy used for?
Typically, chemotherapy is used to destroy or control the growth of cancer cells. It may be given before surgery to shrink tumours, after treatment to prevent recurrence or to manage advanced-stage cancers.
2. How long does a chemotherapy session last?
A chemotherapy session can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. The actual time depends on the drug type, dosage and method of administration. Some treatments may even extend over a few days.
3. What are the common side effects of chemotherapy?
The common chemotherapy side effects involve fatigue, nausea, hair loss, loss of appetite and weakened immunity. These effects may vary based on the drugs used and the patient’s overall health.
4. Can chemotherapy completely cure cancer?
Chemotherapy can cure some cancers, especially when detected early, but in many cases, it is used to control the disease, slow its spread or relieve symptoms rather than completely eliminate it.
5. What is the difference between chemotherapy and radiation therapy?
Chemotherapy uses medications that travel through the bloodstream to attack cancer cells throughout the body. In contrast, radiation therapy uses targeted high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells in a specific area.
6. Is chemotherapy painful?
Chemotherapy itself usually is not painful. At the same time, some discomfort may occur from injections or intravenous administration. Side effects like nausea or fatigue can also cause discomfort after treatment.
7. What types of cancer are treated with chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is commonly used for breast, lung, blood (leukaemia, lymphoma), colon and ovarian cancers, among others. It may be used alone or combined with other treatments.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a certified medical and/or nutrition professional for any questions. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.