The immune system is a fantastic part of the human body; its primary function is to find invaders like viruses or bacteria and fight them off to keep you healthy. However, it's not impenetrable, and cancer cells can take over, making the immune system weak and vulnerable.
But science has done it again, giving the world immunotherapy – various therapies that amp up the immune system. Different types of immunotherapy help the immune system locate tricky cancer cells that escape normal immune cells.
At the Regenerative Medical Group, our team offers cancer support sessions, including IV therapy, peptide infusions, and nutrients and vitamins. Dr. Bryn J. Henderson and Dr. John S. Farag help you understand each option you're going through, including immunotherapy, to improve your long-term outcomes.
Immunotherapy is best known for its role in fighting cancer by boosting the immune system. Your body's immune system works by seeking out invaders, such as viruses and other invaders. Specific immune cells find and destroy foreign germs, keeping the body healthy.
Cancer is tricky, though, and tumors and cancer cells can evade the body's immune response by moving and hiding. Immunotherapy boosts the immune system, helping it seek out cancer and attack it.
One significant advantage of immunotherapy is that it has several forms. Each type of immunotherapy works differently on the immune system, showing the body how to find and destroy cancer cells.
The type of immunotherapy you need depends on the type of cancer or condition and where the tumor or cancer cells are in the body. The prevalent forms of immunotherapy include:
Although each therapy is different, they all work to improve the immune system's function against foreign cancer invaders. You may need one or more types of immunotherapy to fight specific forms of cancer.
Immunotherapy significantly benefits other cancer therapies because it utilizes your body's cells and immune system to fight off specific invaders. Knowing the benefits of immunotherapy can help you decide to proceed.
Although the advantages of immunotherapy are numerous, we've compiled a few of the most significant, including:
One of the best aspects of immunotherapy is that it sometimes works when radiation and chemotherapy don't. Some forms of cancer may respond better to immunotherapy than traditional cancer therapies.
Although immunotherapy isn't risk-free, it often has fewer side effects than other cancer therapies. It can skip the excessive side effects because it only targets specific cells, not all of the body's cells.
Immunotherapy can prevent certain cancers from returning. It does this by learning the cancer cells and attacking them immediately if they return, keeping you cancer-free for longer.
Immunotherapy can be an add-on to assist with other therapies, like chemo or radiation. If these therapies work better, the chances of beating cancer are improved.
Just as immunotherapy has many benefits, it also has risks and side effects. Knowing the benefits and risks before deciding on any treatment, especially for cancer, is essential.
Although immunotherapy is a safe option, there are some risks you should take into account, including:
Immunotherapy also doesn't work for everyone and every type of cancer. It works better on certain types of cancer for certain people. We don't always know if it will work until we give it a chance.
Immunotherapy is one of the many cancer therapies, but it's much more than that. Research constantly evolves, meaning researchers are studying it for purposes other than cancer.
In fact, some forms of immunotherapy are helpful for autoimmune conditions that affect the immune system. Immunotherapy therapies are available for various types of autoimmune problems, including MS, Type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
The possibilities of immunotherapy and helping the body fight dangerous invaders are endless.
Call the Regenerative Medical Group today to make an appointment with our team for cancer care or request a consultation right here on our website.
