Immunotherapy: Cancer Treatment that Helps your Immune System Fight Cancer
The lifestyle of modern people who work hard, rest little, and eat unhealthy food increases the chances for them to be at risk of various diseases, especially cancer, which is increasingly affecting younger people. Cancer treatment comes in many forms and varies in effectiveness.
Immunotherapy is another highly effective method for treating cancer, which increases the chances of recovery. However, many people may not be familiar with the term. Muang Thai Life Assurance is here to provide you more information on immunotherapy.
What is Immunotherapy?
Our bodies constantly produce abnormal cells, but the immune system, which is the body’s defense mechanism, protects and destroys abnormal cells, including foreign substances like pathogens that enter our body. Once these foreign substances are eliminated, the body’s systems can return to normal function.
The principle of immunotherapy treatment follows the same concept as the immune system by using drugs to enhance the immune system’s ability to effectively fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy is divided into four main types based on how the immune cells function:
- Monoclonal antibodies: These are synthetic proteins that replace natural antibodies in the immune system. They are developed to specifically target and act against particular types of cancer.
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors: These inhibit the immune system's checkpoints, which regulate the destruction of foreign cells or stop the immune system from attacking normal cells. Since cancer cells hide from the immune system’s destruction, this type of immunotherapy helps enhance the immune system’s ability to detect cancer cells more effectively.
- Cancer vaccines: These vaccines stimulate the immune system to destroy cancer cells and provide protection against certain cancers, such as the cervical cancer vaccine.
- Non-specific Immunotherapies: This type stimulates the overall immune system to respond better to cancer cells, though it does not directly treat cancer.
What types of cancer can Immunotherapy treat?
Immunotherapy can be used as the primary treatment or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. It is commonly used for the following cancers:
- Advanced melanoma skin cancer
- Certain types of lung cancer
- Kidney cancer that is resistant to other treatments
- Head and neck cancer resistant to chemotherapy
Immunotherapy is highly effective, but it may cause mild side effects in some patients, such as fever, diarrhea, nausea, or mouth sores, which are immune responses. These symptoms will gradually improve. Despite its high effectiveness and minimal side effects, immunotherapy is highly specialized. Patients must consult with and be examined by a specialty doctor.
Health planning for the new generation must involve getting rid of the risk before illness, with health coverage that meets your needs. Whether for minor or serious diseases, it helps us access the necessary treatment without worrying about expenses. Increase confidence with comprehensive health insurance from Muang Thai Life Assurance, providing care no matter the profession or lifestyle, so that when illness strikes, you won't have to worry about medical expenses. The health insurance covers critical illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, including common illnesses and accidents.
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Sources: data retrieved on 08/05/2023