05/08/2025
Cancer is a frightening word. It is one of the most common causes of death globally. But medical science has been working hard to develop better ways to combat it. One of the most thrilling and potent techniques now is immunotherapy. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation, which kill cancer cells directly, immunotherapy enables your body to combat cancer naturally by strengthening your immune system.
What Is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is an approach to treating cancer that exploits the body's own immune system to attack cancer. Your body contains white blood cells, tissues, and organs that comprise your immune system. Its role is to keep you safe from infection and disease.
But cancer can also fool the immune system. It can hide or even prevent it from functioning well. That's where immunotherapy comes in. It assists the immune system to locate and destroy cancer cells more efficiently.
How Does the Immune System Work?
To understand immunotherapy, it is helpful to know a little about how your immune system works:
- Your immune system checks your body for anything that does not belong, such as viruses, bacteria, or cancer cells.
- When it detects a threat, it releases special cells to attack and kill it.
- Cancer cells sometimes are tricky. They appear like normal cells or send signals to "turn off" immune attacks.
- Immunotherapy assists by either eliminating these tricks or supercharging your immune cells to battle back more intensely.
Types of Immunotherapy
There are various forms of immunotherapy for treating cancer. These are some of the common ones:
1. Checkpoint Inhibitors
Sometimes cancer cells instruct immune cells to "stop attacking." Checkpoint inhibitors shut off this instruction, and immune cells can continue fighting.
2. CAR T-Cell Therapy
This is a more complex technique. Physicians harvest your T-cells (a form of immune system cell), engineer them in the laboratory to more effectively kill cancer, and then reinfuse them into your body.
3. Monoclonal Antibodies
These are man-made proteins that bind to cancer cells. They are like tags so your immune system can locate and kill them more effectively.
4. Cancer Vaccines
Just as flu or measles vaccines, cancer vaccines assist your body in identifying cancer cells and destroying them.
5. Cytokines
These are natural compounds your body produces. In treatment, they are administered in larger doses to make immune cells grow and function better.
Advantages of Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy has some advantages over other types of cancer therapy:
- Fewer side effects: Because it acts more precisely against cancer, it tends to do less damage to healthy cells.
- Long-term defense: After being trained, your immune system will continue to attack cancer cells for a long time after treatment.
- Works well with many cancers: It has been successful in treating lung cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, and even blood cancers.
- May work when other treatments don't: In some cases, immunotherapy can work even when chemotherapy fails.
Common Side Effects of Immunotherapy
While it is normally well-tolerated, immunotherapy can have side effects. These are largely due to the immune system overreacting and attacking healthy components of the body. Some common side effects are:
- Feeling very tired (fatigue)
- Fever and shivering
- Itching or rashes on the skin
- Diarrhea or abdominal problems
- Breathing difficulties
These can largely be dealt with by doctors, particularly if they are detected early. Always report to your doctor if something doesn't feel right.
Who Can Have Immunotherapy?
Not everyone with cancer is suitable for immunotherapy. Physicians consider a number of factors before suggesting it:
- Type of cancer
- Stage of cancer (how far it has spread)
- Genetic markers
- Overall health of the patient
Immunotherapy works better in some cancers than others. A specialist will test to see if it will be effective for you.
What to Expect During Immunotherapy Treatment
If you're beginning immunotherapy, here's what usually occurs:
- Initial Tests: You'll undergo blood tests and scans to determine your health and cancer stage.
- Treatment Plan: Your physician will develop a plan specific to your cancer type.
- Receiving the Therapy: Treatment usually comes in the form of an IV drip. Some receive pills.
- Monitoring: Physicians will monitor how your body is responding to the treatment and adjust as required.
- Follow-Up: After treatment, follow-up procedures ensure tracking of your recovery and avoiding relapse.
What Makes Immunotherapy Different?
The biggest difference is how it works. While chemotherapy kills both healthy and cancerous cells, immunotherapy trains your own body to do the job naturally. It doesn’t just treat cancer — it empowers your body to fight back.
Conclusion
Cancer is a difficult fight. But with new therapies such as immunotherapy, there is more hope than ever before. It is not merely a therapy — it is a revolution in how we perceive and combat cancer.
If you or a family member is dealing with cancer, think of talking to an expert about whether immunotherapy is an option for you.
Consult an Expert at Eternal Hospital, Jaipur
If you need expert opinion or would like to know if immunotherapy will work for you, talk to Dr. Amit Verma at Eternal, Jaipur.
Schedule your appointment today and start on the path to improved health.
FAQ’s
Q1. Is immunotherapy suitable for all forms of cancer?
A: No, immunotherapy is not suitable for all forms of cancer. It suits some cancers such as lung cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, and blood cancers. A physician will determine if it's appropriate depending on your cancer type and general health.
Q2. What is immunotherapy's success rate?
A: Success rates differ based on the type of cancer, its stage, and the condition of the patient. Some patients experience lasting responses, particularly in cancers such as melanoma and lung cancer. But it doesn't work for everybody.
Q3. How long does immunotherapy treatment last?
A: Duration of treatment varies with your individual condition and response. Some patients receive treatment for several months, but others go on for a year or more, particularly if they are doing well.
Q4. Can immunotherapy be used together with other treatments for cancer?
A: Yes, in many cases, immunotherapy can be used in combination with chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapy for improved outcomes. Your oncologist will formulate the best possible treatment plan for your situation.
Q5. Are there long-term side effects of immunotherapy?
A: The majority of side effects are manageable and temporary, like fatigue or skin rash. In some very rare instances, though, long-term immune-related effects can arise. Regular follow-up ensures that any ongoing effects are monitored and managed.