Immunotherapy is a modern cancer treatment that helps the body's immune system fight many types of cancer. Some cancers can change the way the immune system works, specifically blocking it to avoid detection and destruction. With the help of immunotherapy, cells of the immune system find and attack malignant cells. This unlocks your body's own defenses to fight the tumor.
Monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, vaccines, T-lymphocytes and others are used for cancer immunotherapy. However, the most widely used drugs are checkpoint inhibitors. They unblock the mechanism of tumor cell recognition by the body's own immune system, which leads to the destruction of these cells by the body's anti-tumor immunity.
Immunotherapy drugs are most often administered intravenously.
Depending on the type and stage of cancer, immunotherapy is performed as a standalone treatment or in combination with chemotherapy or targeted therapy.
What is the difference between immunotherapy and chemotherapy?
If there are appropriate indications for treatment, immunotherapy is usually more effective.
The side effects of immunotherapy are rare and usually asymptomatic, detected only in blood tests and often do not affect quality of life, unlike the side effects of chemotherapy, which can sometimes make everyday life much more difficult.
How do I know if immunotherapy is right for me?
The use of immunotherapy is possible only if there are indications for this method of treatment, which are clearly defined for each cancer by international protocols.
Immunotherapy is used to treat the following cancers
- melanoma
- lung cancer
- kidney cancer
- bladder cancer;
- breast cancer;
- cancer of the stomach and esophagus;
- colon and rectal cancer;
- Liver and pancreatic cancer;
- cancer of the cervix and uterine body;
- ovarian cancer;
- lymphoma, leukemia and others.
What are the side effects of immunotherapy?
The most common side effects of immunotherapy occur as a result of excessive activation of the immune system. In particular, they include: skin rash, autoimmune inflammation of the lungs, liver, colon, kidneys, nervous and endocrine systems.
At the Dobrobut Oncology Center, we provide immunotherapy at two locations:
- 3 Family Idzikowsky St. (right bank)
- 12A Mykoly Bazhana Ave. (left bank)
We have introduced a special Oncology Care and Personal Support Service, which provides support and assistance to patients and their loved ones throughout the entire treatment path.
You can contact the manager of the Oncology Center's Care and Personal Support Service from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 by calling the number listed on our website.
