Cancer Immunotherapy: A Modern Cancer Treatment
The human immune system acts as a shield for various infections and diseases that attack the body. Moreover, even though the immune system plays its best role in avoiding tumour cells, these cells somehow make their way inside. Therefore, to prevent the tumour cells from creating a disturbance, immunotherapy gives a helping hand to the immune system to win against cancer.
The medical field in India is seeing advances each passing day. Apart from conventional techniques, modern treatments are discovered with more efficiency and accuracy. For example, in immunotherapy treatment, the natural immune system of the human body comes into action to kill the cancer cells.
Moreover, as the therapy includes modern standards, the cost is pretty high. For example, immunotherapy tumor operation cost in India ranges between INR 1 Lakh to 2 Lakh per session.
The Working Of Immunotherapy
Oncologists use various ways by which they give immunotherapy to cancer patients:
- Topical Immunotherapy
In this method, an immune enhancement cream is rubbed on the patient’s skin, which effectively destroys various cancer and other harmful cells. Moreover, this way is more popular in treating first stage skin cancer.
- Oral Immunotherapy
In this method, patients are given pills and tablets to deal with immune system crises. It thereby boosts the immune system and kills the cancer cells. This way is mostly used to treat oropharyngeal cancers.
- Intravenous (IV)
The intravenous injection goes directly into the patients’ veins in this method. It supports the immune system to fight cancer cells and infections.
2. Intravesical
In this method, immunotherapy is used in treating bladder-cancer patients in their early stages. Moreover, it makes the immune system strong and prevents the cancer cells from growing and re-emerging.
Major Types Of Cancer Immunotherapy
There are mainly five types of immunotherapies that are used to treat cancer patients:
- Cancer Treatment Vaccines
It’s unique that vaccines for treating cancer exist. These vaccines boost the immune system, thereby making them effective to analyze the grown molecules on cancer cells.
- Cytokine Proteins
With the help of these proteins, namely Interferon and Interleukin, the body gets ease in eradicating cancer cells. Moreover, this protein also benefits killer T-cells by boosting their capacity and hence makes cancer cells more clear to the immune system.
- Checkpoint Inhibitors
These immune checkpoint inhibitors destroy the effects of proteins produced by cancer cells. It makes the immune system more flexible in finding the cancer cells.
- T-cell Transfer
In this treatment, there is a transmission of the T-cells into the patient’s body which blocks the threats in the body, such as destroying the abnormal cancer cells.
- Monoclonal Antibodies
These are the proteins made in labs with the main target on cancer cells. Moreover, these antibodies greatly interfere with the cancer cell proteins so that the immune system can identify and thus kill them.
Immunotherapy Cost In India
The traditional tumor operation cost in India ranges from INR 2,00,000 to INR 7,00,000. However, modern ways to treat brain cancer, i.e. immunotherapy, is much more expensive. Each session costs around INR 2 Lakh, and there are a large number of sessions held monthly.
Although the cost is too high due to imported drugs, the treatment is the most efficient way to kill cancer cells. It may have slight side effects but is utmost popular for its effectiveness and results.
Is There Any Risk Associated With Immunotherapy?
Treating cancers with immunotherapy is not rocket science. Therefore, it has some side effects due to excessive drug use, which ultimately fades in time. The side effects include pain, swelling, weight gain, fever and a similar few more.
Moreover, in some rare circumstances, the patient may develop worse allergic reactions due to some drugs used in the process.
Some Top Immunotherapy Hospitals
You can find top immunotherapy hospitals on the website of Max Healthcare. The website will take you to the best doctor for your treatment and the best hospital in your preferred location. Here are some of the top hospitals where you can get immunotherapy:
- Max Super Speciality Hospital (Vaishali, Patparganj)
- BLK Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi
- Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, etc.
Conclusion
Hence, with this modern way of treating cancer, you will get the best and effective treatment. In addition, the side effects associated with immunotherapy are far less than those with traditional therapies. Furthermore, your doctor may advise you for this treatment if the first and second trial fails.
Thus, while the traditional treatment can fail, immunotherapy gives a spark of hope to cancer patients.
