According to Wikipedia, the simple definition of Immunotherapy is, ‘Cancer immunotherapy is the artificial stimulation of the immune system to treat cancer.’ The immunotherapy process helps in improving the immune system’s natural ability to fight the cancer.
Immune System
It is no secret that the immune system is an essential component of a healthy life. It helps in promoting wellness, preventing illness, and fighting any disease. It is widely believed that cancer may develop if the immune system breaks down or is not functioning correctly. However, this theory is not confirmed.
The immune system keeps a track of every substance ordinarily found within the body. Any ‘out of the ordinary substance’ that the immune system doesn’t recognize raises a caution, causing the immune system to kill it. For instance, germs contain specific proteins that are not ordinarily found within the human body. The immune system recognizes these ‘specific proteins’ as “foreign” to the body and kills them. The immune reaction can annihilate anything containing a foreign substance, such as germs or cancer cells. Hence, the immune system needs to be strong in order to detect and kill an unknown substance that enters our body.
Why Is Immunotherapy Important?
However, this is not the case with Chemotherapy; as we have mentioned before that the Chemo medications work by killing cancer cells in your body, but the drawback is that they kill almost every cell that replicates rapidly. And that results in the Chemo medications killing a few very healthy and important cells in your body linked to the immune system. This is why most cancer patients have weak immune systems while in and after their chemo sessions.
How does Immunotherapy contribute to the wellness of cancer patients? It represents and highlights progress in cancer research and treatment. Immunotherapy might be the fourth modality in cancer treatment one day. The others modalities are surgery, radiation, and Chemotherapy. Nowadays, Immunotherapy is sometimes also given in combination with other well-known cancer treatments and therapies.
Immunotherapy and the ways it is used:
Anticancer activity: In Chemotherapy, typically, the chemo medications work by killing the cancer cells in your body. Cancer cells tend to replicate rapidly. The medications stop them from multiplying as well. The drawback of Chemo is that it can differentiate between cancer cells and the healthy cells of your body. As a result, it may harm the healthy cells. And that is why it is an important goal of Immunotherapy to assist the immune system in recognizing the cancer cells as unfamiliar.
- In Immunotherapy, some immune cells kill the cancer cells directly, while others help to stop or slow the replicating of cancer cells.
- It is a well-established fact that a powerful and strong immune system is important more than any other organ and system in the human body.
Supportive treatments: Immunotherapy is also used to lessen certain side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. That is how supportive treatments take place under Immunotherapy.
How does the immune system fight cancer?
Your immune system comprises a thorough and complex process that your body uses to battle disease. This process includes your cells, organs, and proteins. Cancer can quickly get around a considerable amount of time and trick the immune system’s natural defenses, permitting other Cancer cells to keep on replicating.
Various kinds of immunotherapy work in different ways. Some immunotherapy treatments help the immune system to stop or at least slow down the development of cancer cells. Others assist the immune system with killing the cancer cells or preventing the disease from spreading to different parts of the body.
There are numerous kinds of Immunotherapy. They include:
- Monoclonal antibodies and tumor-freethinker medicines.
- Oncolytic Infection Treatment.
- T-cell Treatment.
- Cancer Vaccines.
Why Is Immunotherapy important for Cancer Patients?
Immunotherapy plays a vital role in helping other cancer treatments work and effectively. Different therapies like Chemotherapy may work effectively if you also have Immunotherapy in your medication plan. It causes fewer side effects as compared to other treatments. This is because Immunotherapy only targets your immune system, unlike Chemo. Your cancer might have a lesser chance to return. When you have Immunotherapy, your immune system figures out how to search and destroy the cancer cells if they ever return back.
What Are the Risks?
Even though Immunotherapy plays such an influential and vital role in cancer treatment, it can still be the cause of a few side effects such as:
Number one and commonly felt side effect is a bad reaction. Almost every patient that goes through Immunotherapy has felt itch, swelling, and their body parts turning red and sore. Some types of Immunotherapy can rev up your immune system, and as a result, you may feel like you have flu with chills, fatigue, and fever. Others have witnessed side effects like swelling, heart palpitations, and weight gain from extra fluids, a stuffy head, and diarrhea.
Immunotherapy does not work for everyone. Right now, only less than half of patients are benefitting from Immunotherapy. Many patients only have a partial response. This means your tumor could stop growing or get smaller, but it doesn’t go away. According to CancerCenter.com, doctors aren’t yet sure as to why Immunotherapy helps only a few patients.
How to Manage the Immunotherapy Side Effects
Your doctors and the group of the health care teams can assist you with getting rid of the side effects. This is called ‘Palliative Care’ or supportive care and is a vital part of the Cancer treatment process. However, it is also important that you alert the health care team as soon as you feel your condition is worsening or there is a new pain in your body. Even if you do not think it is related to Immunotherapy, it is still advised to alert your doctor as soon as you can.
IYA Medical offers treatments for cancer patients in the U.S. If you or a loved one are looking for more information on cancer and treatments, please call 480.750.8130.
About the Practice
Blending interventional and diagnostic radiology and primary care services with aesthetic medicine and spa treatments, IYA Medical in Scottsdale, Arizona, helps their patients achieve beauty, health, and happiness. Using scientifically proven products and treatments, the highly experienced and educated team of doctors helps you feel better from the inside out.
At IYA Medical, patients receive access to a combination of medical services and advanced treatments in a comfortable, state-of-the-art facility.
Committed to reducing the length of hospital stays, IYA Medical’s interventional radiology services, with advanced imaging, allow the team to precisely treat complex conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular disease with minimally invasive options.
The doctors offer back pain management, diagnosis and treatment for joint pain, pelvic pain, and leg pain, including varicose vein removal, and offer the option of ports and catheters for long-term dialysis or chemotherapy treatment using minimally invasive solutions and image-guided surgery techniques.
For patient convenience, concierge medicine services give round-the-clock access to doctors and more exclusive benefits. Learn more about the medical services available at IYA Medical by calling the practice or to schedule an appointment (480) 750-8130.
About Dr. Agha
Dr. Ayad Agha, DO brings an unmatched background including a fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology and Interventional Oncology from the University of California-San Diego, a Doctorate of Pharmacy from The Ohio State University, a Masters in Nuclear Pharmacy from the University of Southern California, and a Medical Degree from Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Agha is certified by the American Board of Radiology, an associate professor of diagnostic and interventional radiology at the University of Arizona Medical School, a clinical professor of the health and science department at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University and a medical consultant with product design in the field of interventional radiology.
A popular and renowned Interventional Radiologist, Dr. Agha is an expert in cutting-edge medical practice and well versed in utilizing stem cells, genomic testing, and vascular aesthetics.
His presence brings to IYA a host of services that can result in an enhanced quality of life – turning back the clock, whenever possible, on function, energy, and mobility. Among the initial services provided are cosmetic vein treatments, full-body scans as part of detailed wellness care, rejuvenating serums, and pain treatments.
Fellowship-trained and board-certified in vascular and interventional radiology at the University of California San Diego, he offers a unique approach to problem-solving. Dr. Agha has held leadership positions and trains physicians in private and academic settings. A frequent Phoenix Magazine Top Doc, he is at the forefront of the future of medicine and now brings this passion for educating clients and providers to IYA.
A long-time resident of Arizona, he is known as a true force of nature and is anxious to bring a new level of medical cosmetic and other related services to Scottsdale and surrounding communities.
Dr. Ayad Agha holds US patents in Surgical Methods Apparatus Designs, Biopsy Devices, Rotary Indexers, and Methods of Use.