Home / Myth Busters / Chemotherapy, immunotherapy & targeted therapy
Cancer treatment myths,
answered with evidence.
కీమోథెరపీ, ఇమ్యునోథెరపీ, టార్గెటెడ్ థెరపీ – అపోహలు, నిజాలు
Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy are surrounded by fears and false hopes in equal measure. This series explains what each treatment does, when it is used, the side effects to watch for, and how to make informed choices.
20 myths · Updated October 2026
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is only given when cancer is advanced and incurable?
క్యాన్సర్ ముదిరి, నయం కానప్పుడే కీమోథెరపీ ఇస్తారా?Chemotherapy is often given with the aim of cure: before or after surgery, alongside radiotherapy, and as the main treatment for several cancers.
Read the factsMyth #02 · ChemotherapyEvery patient receiving chemotherapy will lose their hair?
కీమోథెరపీ తీసుకునే ప్రతి రోగికీ జుట్టు రాలుతుందా?Hair loss depends on the drugs, doses and schedule. Some treatments cause complete hair loss; others cause thinning or very little.
Read the factsMyth #03 · ChemotherapyChemotherapy is always painful and unbearable?
కీమోథెరపీ ఎప్పుడూ నొప్పిగా, భరించలేనంతగా ఉంటుందా?Many side effects can be prevented or controlled with modern supportive medicines. How people tolerate treatment varies greatly between regimens and individuals.
Read the factsMyth #04 · ChemotherapyChemotherapy destroys immunity permanently?
కీమోథెరపీ రోగనిరోధక శక్తిని శాశ్వతంగా నాశనం చేస్తుందా?Many chemotherapy treatments temporarily lower blood counts and raise the risk of infection. Counts usually recover, although some treatments have longer-lasting effects on immunity.
Read the factsMyth #05 · ChemotherapyIf chemotherapy causes no side effects, it isn't working?
కీమోథెరపీ వల్ల దుష్ప్రభావాలు లేకపోతే అది పనిచేయడం లేదా?How severe the side effects are doesn't reliably show how well treatment is working. People can respond very well with few symptoms.
Read the factsMyth #06 · ChemotherapyChemotherapy makes cancer spread faster?
కీమోథెరపీ వల్ల క్యాన్సర్ వేగంగా వ్యాపిస్తుందా?Chemotherapy is designed to destroy or hold back cancer cells. Cancer sometimes grows despite treatment because it becomes resistant, but chemotherapy doesn't cause it to spread.
Read the factsMyth #07 · ChemotherapyOnce chemotherapy begins, it can't be stopped or changed?
కీమోథెరపీ మొదలుపెట్టాక ఆపడం లేదా మార్చడం కుదరదా?Treatment can be adjusted, delayed, reduced or stopped when there is a good medical reason: side effects, how the cancer is responding, or a change in the goals of treatment.
Read the factsMyth #08 · ChemotherapyChemotherapy always causes permanent infertility?
కీమోథెరపీ వల్ల ఎప్పుడూ శాశ్వతంగా పిల్లలు పుట్టరా?The risk to fertility depends on the drugs, the total dose, age and the type of treatment. Fertility preservation should be discussed before treatment whenever relevant.
Read the factsImmunotherapy
Immunotherapy works for every cancer patient?
ఇమ్యునోథెరపీ ప్రతి క్యాన్సర్ రోగికీ పనిచేస్తుందా?Whether immunotherapy helps depends on the type of cancer, its stage, biomarkers and the treatment setting. Not every tumour responds.
Read the factsMyth #10 · ImmunotherapyImmunotherapy has no side effects because it uses the body's own immune system?
ఇమ్యునోథెరపీ శరీరపు సొంత రోగనిరోధక శక్తిని వాడుతుంది కాబట్టి దుష్ప్రభావాలు ఉండవా?Immunotherapy can cause the immune system to attack healthy organs, including the skin, bowel, liver, lungs and thyroid. Some reactions are serious or even life-threatening.
Read the factsMyth #11 · ImmunotherapyImmunotherapy is always better than chemotherapy?
ఇమ్యునోథెరపీ ఎప్పుడూ కీమోథెరపీ కంటే మంచిదా?Neither is better for everyone. Some cancers respond best to chemotherapy, others to immunotherapy, and many benefit from a combination.
Read the factsMyth #12 · ImmunotherapyImmunotherapy works immediately after the first dose?
మొదటి డోస్ తర్వాతే ఇమ్యునోథెరపీ పనిచేస్తుందా?Responses can take time, and vary widely. Early scans and symptoms must be interpreted in light of the specific treatment and cancer.
Read the factsMyth #13 · ImmunotherapyIf a tumour grows on the first scan, immunotherapy is definitely failing?
మొదటి స్కాన్‌లో గడ్డ పెరిగితే ఇమ్యునోథెరపీ ఖచ్చితంగా విఫలమైనట్లేనా?True progression is more common than "pseudoprogression". In some stable patients, further assessment may clarify an uncertain early scan, but suspected progression must not be dismissed.
Read the factsMyth #14 · ImmunotherapyImmunotherapy can be continued indefinitely without monitoring?
పర్యవేక్షణ లేకుండా ఇమ్యునోథెరపీని ఎంత కాలమైనా కొనసాగించవచ్చా?How long treatment continues depends on the cancer and the treatment plan. Regular monitoring is essential, and side effects can occasionally appear even after treatment stops.
Read the factsTargeted therapy
Targeted therapy works for every cancer?
టార్గెటెడ్ చికిత్స ప్రతి క్యాన్సర్‌కూ పనిచేస్తుందా?Targeted drugs act on specific features or gene changes in cancer cells. They are used only when the right target is present, often confirmed by biomarker testing.
Read the factsMyth #16 · Targeted therapyTargeted therapy has no side effects because it attacks only cancer cells?
టార్గెటెడ్ చికిత్స క్యాన్సర్ కణాల మీదే దాడి చేస్తుంది కాబట్టి దుష్ప్రభావాలు ఉండవా?Targeted treatments can cause rash, diarrhoea, high blood pressure, liver problems, heart effects and other side effects, depending on the drug.
Read the factsMyth #17 · Targeted therapyAll targeted therapies are tablets?
టార్గెటెడ్ చికిత్సలన్నీ మాత్రలేనా?Some targeted treatments are tablets; others, including antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates, are given by drip or injection.
Read the factsMyth #18 · Targeted therapyA positive genetic test automatically means a targeted drug will work?
జన్యు పరీక్ష పాజిటివ్ వస్తే టార్గెటెడ్ మందు ఆటోమేటిక్‌గా పనిచేస్తుందా?Benefit depends on the specific gene change, the type of tumour, the drug and the treatment setting. Not every gene change found can be treated.
Read the factsMyth #19 · Targeted therapyIf targeted therapy stops working, no further treatment is possible?
టార్గెటెడ్ చికిత్స పనిచేయడం ఆగిపోతే ఇక వేరే చికిత్స లేదా?Cancers can become resistant, but repeat testing or other treatments may offer further options.
Read the factsMyth #20 · Targeted therapyTargeted therapy always cures cancer permanently?
టార్గెటెడ్ చికిత్స ఎప్పుడూ క్యాన్సర్‌ను శాశ్వతంగా నయం చేస్తుందా?Some targeted treatments give long-lasting control, or contribute to cure in certain situations, but many are used to control advanced cancer rather than eliminate it.
Read the facts