Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. The immune system helps your body recognize and attack abnormal cells, but cancer cells can evade detection or suppress the immune response. Immunotherapy boosts the immune system or changes its functionality to target cancer cells more effectively. Various immunotherapy options exist, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, T-cell therapy, and cytokines. These treatments can be used alone or in combination with other cancer therapies. Immunotherapy is effective for certain types of cancer but may not work for everyone, and it can also carry the risk of side effects that vary in intensity and type.
Immunotherapy is used to treat cancer by harnessing the power of the immune system. Depending on the type of cancer and the patient's condition, immunotherapy can serve different purposes:
Immunotherapy can enhance the Immune systems ability to Identify and destroy cancer cells, offering an alternative to traditional treatments.
Immunotherapy can work in conjunction with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy to improve outcomes. This is often referred to as combination therapy.
Certain immunotherapies can prevent cancer from spreading or growing by interfering with signals cancer cells use to multiply.
In some cases, immunotherapy can "train" the immune system to remember cancer cells, reducing the risk Of recurrence.
Side effects of immunotherapy vary depending on the specific type of treatment and how it interacts with the immune system. While some side effects are mild, others can be more severe or even life-threatening. Common side effects include:
Side effects that occur during Immunotherapy treatment
- Fatigue
- Skin rashes or itching
- Flu-like symptoms fever, chills, and body aches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain
- Hormonal changes, such as thyroid dysfunction
Patients should consult their doctor to understand potential risks
and develop a management plan.
Immunotherapy can be administered in various ways depending on the type of treatment and the cancer being addressed:
• Intravenous Infusion (IV): Drugs are delivered directly into the bloodstream through an IV line, ensuring widespread circulation. Infusions are done in a hospital or clinic and can take minutes to hours, repeated over cycles.
• Oral Medications: Some immunotherapy drugs come as pills or capsules, taken at home according to a prescribed schedule, with regular monitoring by your doctor.
• Topical Applications: Creams are applied directly to the skin to treat localized cancers like early-stage melanoma, stimulating a local immune response.
• Injections: Drugs can be injected under the skin (subcutaneous) or into the muscle (intramuscular), similar to vaccines, often in a clinical setting.
• Direct Delivery to Tumors: Some treatments, like oncolytic viruses, are injected directly into tumors to boost the immune response. Imaging may guide precise delivery.
The frequency of immunotherapy sessions depends on the specific treatment plan, the patient's condition, and the type of immunotherapy being used. Treatments may be given in cycles, with periods of rest in between to allow the body to recover Your doctor will tailor a schedule to your specific needs and monitor your progress to adjust the plan if necessary.
Throughout immunotherapy, your doctor will closely monitor your condition, tracking how well the treatment is working through regular checkups, blood tests, and imaging scans. Side effects and other responses will also be addressed to ensure you receive the most benefit with minimal discomfort Immunotherapy's results can vary widely. Some patients experience significant improvement, while others may see more modest effects. Long-term outcomes often depend on the type of cancer and the body's response to treatment.