Overview
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that strengthens or alters the body's immune system so it can find and kill cancer cells more easily. Immunotherapy boosts the body's natural defences, while chemotherapy directly attacks rapidly dividing cells. There are different types of immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, CAR T-cell therapy, and cytokine therapy. These treatments work by either getting the immune system to work harder or by removing the factors that keep immune cells from attacking cancer. Immunotherapy can be used by itself or with chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. It is now an important treatment choice for many types of cancer, such as melanoma, lung cancer, and some blood cancers.
Why It's Done
Immunotherapy helps the immune system find and kill cancer cells that might not be recognised by the immune system. It can be used to treat cancer at any stage and may help control the disease for a long time. When other treatments haven't worked, it is sometimes the best option. The goal is to slow tumour growth, reduce the risk of recurrence, and improve survival rates.
What to Expect?
Patients have blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes genetic tests performed before starting immunotherapy to determine whether they are a good fit. Most of the time, treatment is given through an IV in a hospital or outpatient setting. However, some types can be given as injections or pills. Depending on the treatment plan, sessions could happen every few weeks. Most of the time, each infusion lasts between 30 minutes and a few hours. Side effects are often linked to immune system activation and can include tiredness, a rash, a fever, or swelling of organs. This is not the case with chemotherapy. During and after treatment, patients are closely monitored for immune-related reactions so they can be identified and treated. Regular follow-up appointments check how well the treatment is working and make adjustments if necessary.
Recovery & Outlook
Recovery is different for each person. Some patients achieve long-lasting benefits with manageable side effects. Immunotherapy has greatly improved outcomes in many cancers, giving patients who didn't have many treatment options before new hope.