Immune Therapy or Immunotherapy is a revolutionary cancer treatment that has been proven to target and destroy malignant cells while leaving healthy ones intact. This cutting-edge therapy involves introducing specific antibodies or proteins into the body in order to stimulate the immune system and strengthen its ability to fight off cancerous tumors.
Preparations
Before undergoing any form of Immunotherapy, patients must complete a rigorous physical examination and comprehensive blood, urine and imaging scans to ensure they are physically able to endure the rigors of the treatments. Your oncologist can also order genetic tests to understand if you will respond to the treatment well.
What to expect
During an immune therapy session, patients will likely receive infusions of substances called checkpoint inhibitors or other biologic agents designed to stimulate the body’s natural defense mechanisms. Doctors will monitor patient’s progress through frequent checkups and lab tests. Immune therapy drugs are different from the chemotherapy drugs and lack some side effects of chemotherapy such as hair loss.
Duration of the treatment
The length of an Immune Therapy regimen varies from person to person, depending on the type and stage of cancer being treated. On average, it takes anywhere between four to six months for optimal results; however, some people may need additional rounds of therapy for lasting remission.
Common side effects
Common side effects associated with Immune Therapy include nausea, fatigue, chills, fever, joint pain, difficulty breathing, and skin reactions. Thankfully, these symptoms usually fade over time as the patient’s body adjusts to the treatments.
Success rate
According to latest studies, immune therapy has shown promising success rates in certain forms of cancer. Depending on the patient’s individual case, they may be able to achieve remission and even long-term survival with this treatment option. The important thing to remember is immunotherapy a highly individualized treatment. Every patient is treatment so that individual diagnoses should be discussed with the oncologists before starting the treatment.