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Cancer

How Is Immunotherapy Different From Chemotherapy?

Lauren Smith, MASanjai Sinha, MD
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD
Updated on July 3, 2025
Featuring Melissa Wilson, MDReviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD | July 3, 2025

Immunotherapy is a newer type of cancer treatment, and it does not cause the same side effects as chemotherapy. The reason has to do with how immunotherapy medications and chemotherapy medications work in the body to attack and destroy cancer cells.

In this video, learn how immunotherapy works and how it's different from chemotherapy, and the most common side effects of each, according to Melissa Wilson, MD, PhD, of the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

References

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Lauren Smith, MA
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MA
Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Reviewed by:
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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