Cancer remains one of the most serious and widespread health challenges globally, attacking the body internally by causing abnormal cell growth that affects entire organs. While cancer cases are on the rise, medical experts still face challenges in diagnosing it early and effectively. Most people are familiar with chemotherapy as a standard treatment for cancer, but there is a newer, emerging therapy known as immunotherapy. This treatment is gaining attention for its potential to harness the body’s immune system in the fight against cancer. So, how effective is this approach? Let’s explore.
How Effective is Cancer Immunotherapy?
Recent research has shed light on the effectiveness of immunotherapy, particularly in patients with colorectal and endometrial cancer. A study conducted at Birmingham and Women’s Hospital in the United States examined the results of 1,655 patients undergoing immunotherapy and found it to be highly effective. Unlike traditional treatments like chemotherapy, which often come with harsh side effects, immunotherapy works differently by focusing on the body’s immune cells.
In cancer patients, the disease weakens the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off not just cancer but other illnesses as well. Immunotherapy aims to rejuvenate and strengthen these cells, enabling the immune system to better target and destroy cancerous cells. This approach is particularly promising for diseases like cancer, where the body’s own defense mechanisms are critical in overcoming the illness.
Can immunotherapy be given in every cancer?
Experts say that since many immunotherapy drugs are new, research is ongoing to exactly define which patients are likely to benefit the most from it. In some cancers, the role of immunotherapy is very well-established and often, better than chemotherapy. These include kidney cancer/RCC, lung cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, esophagus cancer, urinary bladder cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma (skin cancer), and some blood cancers.
In other cancers, the role of immunotherapy is established but it is mostly used after failure of other options. These include prostate cancer, stomach cancer, colon and rectal (intestinal) cancer, sarcomas and bone cancers.
In many other cancers, the data in favour of immunotherapy is optimistic but as of now not strong enough to recommend it routinely. An expert oncologist can help you decide if immunotherapy might be right for you.
How Does Immunotherapy Work?
To better understand immunotherapy, it’s important to know how it functions within the body. The therapy works by activating dormant immune cells that have been rendered ineffective by cancer. In this way, it reawakens the body's natural defenses and allows it to fight the disease more effectively. This is a key difference from chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which rely on external agents to kill cancer cells but often damage healthy cells in the process.
Immunotherapy is showing the most promise in treating advanced, stage-4 cancers, where other treatments often fall short. While chemotherapy and radiation can slow the progression of the disease, they are not always successful in eradicating it, especially in late stages. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, works by empowering the body's immune response, leading to more targeted and potentially less damaging results. To date, the therapy has shown minimal side effects compared to more traditional treatments.
Potential for Relief and Hope for the Future
Looking at the potential impact of immunotherapy in India, the statistics are daunting. According to a 2020 report from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Center for Disease Informatics and Research, the country is expected to see a 12% increase in cancer cases within five years. With cancer cases steadily rising, innovative treatments like immunotherapy could offer significant relief for patients, particularly those with advanced stages of the disease.
If immunotherapy proves successful and becomes more widely available in India, it could offer a new lease on life for many cancer patients who have exhausted other treatment options.
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