Our immune system is the body's defence mechanism, protecting it from infection, disease, and illness. The immune system consists of lymphatic, spleen and white blood cells. Usually, the immune system can recognise and destroy foreign bodies in the blood, including cancer cells. However, cancer might develop when:
This is when immunotherapy can help to fight cancer. Immunotherapy is of different types which work in different ways to treat cancer, for example:
Immunotherapy may not be needed to treat all kinds of cancers. It is still being studied and is undergoing clinical trials for some types of cancers. Despite that, it is still one of the most important treatments for a few types of cancers and is used as the first line of treatment.
In some patients, immunotherapy may lead to potential side effects that may be severe but manageable. Even though scientists have not completely figured out the immune system's capacity to fight cancer, the use of immunotherapy in cancer patients has shown favourable results.
Immunology has already led to major treatment breakthroughs for numerous cancers, right from its preventative vaccine for cervical and liver cancer to extending the lives of patients with metastatic melanoma. Each cancer is unique to the other; despite that, immunology and immunotherapy have impacted each other differently.
Immunotherapy is considered to be a first-line treatment for most types of metastatic cancers. This therapy can be used as an adjunct to other treatment approaches such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery and others. It has proven to be beneficial in treating the following types of cancers:
Whether you can undergo immunotherapy or not depends on certain factors, which include:
Before recommending a course of cancer treatment, doctors consider the patient's situation. This includes weighing the potential risks and benefits of immunotherapy against the additional years and quality of life that it may provide for the patient. Only after careful consideration do doctors recommend immunotherapy.
Anti-cancer immunotherapy is often considered when a patient is less likely to survive with standard chemotherapy or radiation therapy or when the risks of chemotherapy exceed the potential benefits. There are two categories of patients for this treatment:
Action Cancer Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Delhi for people battling cancer. Here’s why you should choose Action Cancer Hospital for your cancer treatment:
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