Treatments

 

 

Select a Treatment: Chemotherapy  |  Immunotherapy  |  Radiation  |  Surgery  |  Hormonal Therapy  |  Targeted Therapy  |  Stem Cell Transplantation

 

What It Is

A newer form of cancer therapy, immunotherapy uses the body's natural defenses against disease to facilitate the killing of cancer cells. Types of immunotherapy include interferon, interleukin, monoclonal antibodies, colony stimulating factors (cytokines), and vaccines.

Cytokines, proteins produced by white blood cells in response to inflammation or infection, include interleukins as well as interferons such as interferon-alpha that can slow tumor growth. Monoclonal antibodies are artificial antibodies injected to seek out a particular target (called an "antigen") and disrupt its cellular activities. Vaccines are still in the experimental stage, but show some promise in fighting cancer.

What to Expect

Immunotherapy is administered through injections of specially cultured proteins or antibodies into the patient's bloodstream. Sessions are normally short visits to the Center, followed up with supportive treatments to ensure that white-cell counts, iron levels and other counts are where they should be.

Length of treatment [need info from MCA]

Side Effects

The use of cytokines, including many of the interferons and interleukins, can cause patients to experience malaise and flu-like symptoms which worsen with higher doses.