IMMUNOTHERAPY

IMMUNOTHERAPY

Immunotherapy is known as cancer therapy that stimulates  your immune defense to fight against diseases. Immunotherapy medications involve inhibitors and CAR T-cell treatments. These treatments can charge the body’s function of fighting cancer cells or to aid healthy and functional cells to destroy cancer cells.

TYPES

The immune system is made up of several organs, immune cells and proteins that function simultaneously to prevent infections and diseases. Immune cells involve the following:

  • B-cell lymphocytes
  • T-cell lymphocytes
  • Granulocytes
  • Dendritic cells

These cells are very essential to prevent diseases and sustain a healthy body.

TREATMENT

Immune cells generate cytokines, which are protein particles that move other cells in the body. Immunotherapy launches huge amount of proteins in the body to: 

  • Enhance the immune system to create more fighting cells against diseases.
  • Makes it easier to determine the cancer cells in the body.  

What are the conditions that immunotherapy treats?

Immunotherapy treats several kinds of cancers:

The primary types of immunotherapy that a doctor can use cancer treatment are the following:

  • Cancer vaccines
  • Adoptive cell therapy
  • Monoclonal antibodies
  • Immunomodulators

How to manage side effects

Different kinds of immunotherapy can give rise to different effects. Numerous side effects are based on the kind of treatment, the affected area, the type, and the individual’s overall health. Before it starts, ask your doctor about the side effects of your particular treatment.

The entire medical team may help you reduce and fight side effects which is known as supportive care.

The side effects of this procedure ranges from mild to life-threatening. It depends on how serious the effects are, or your doctor may stop the therapy and prescribe you with drugs known as corticosteroids. 

Usual side effects of immunotherapy

The most usual side effects include the following:

  • Skin response. Redness and dryness of the skin.
  • Similar to flu symptoms. Fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are the usual side effects.

Some of the side effects are:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Swelling of legs
  • Headaches
  • Diarrhea
  • Sinus congestions
  • Cough

Ask your doctor on how you can prevent the side effects. 

Related Articles

TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that affects the [...]

TRICHINOSIS

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trichinosis, also known as trichinellosis, is a parasitic infection caused by [...]

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological condition characterized by severe facial pain. [...]