Since 2010, new immunotherapy treatments have changed the direction of cancer care. Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses a person's own immune system to fight cancer. It can boost or change how the immune system works so it can find and attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy is different than chemotherapy.
Some immunotherapy drugs help the immune system work harder so it can find cancer cells and stop them from growing and spreading. Other types can change how the immune system works so it attacks cancer cells better.
Because each person’s treatment is different, how often it is given and how long it lasts can be different, too. Treatment might be given every day for a few days or might be given once a week or once a month. Some types of immunotherapy are given for a period of time, followed by a period of rest so the body can recover from side effects before the next treatment is due.
Some side effects are common with all types of immunotherapy, and side effects can occur at any time during or after treatment.
Talk to your provider to find out if immunotherapy is right for you.
If you have any questions about the treatment options listed, please reach out to the Cancer Institute at 330.375.7280
