Know your options Immunotherapy vs. Chemotherapy
As research and development in the field of medical science progress, the effectiveness of treatment is increasing. Knowing the difference between various treatments is very important. It enables you to have a better discussion with a doctor. Also being fully aware of the kind of treatment you or your loved one is undergoing decreases stress and anxiety.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is administered to kill cancer cells and shrink cancer cells so that the tumour decreases and surgery can be performed, at times it's even used to control the spread of cancer cells to prolong the life of a cancer patient as much as possible.
In chemotherapy, various drugs or medicines are given through intravenous (IV). A tube attached to a needle is inserted into a vein in the patient's chest. Some chemotherapy drugs can be taken in the form of tablets too while some drugs are injected into the muscle, under the skin or directly into the spinal fluid.
When administered correctly chemotherapy is a painless procedure. It should not cause any pain. In case it does call the doctor immediately. In rare cases, the medicine leaks into the surrounding tissues and that may cause pain.
Depending on the kind of cancer and stage, chemotherapy can take 5 mins to a few hours. You will be continuously monitored to ensure that the medication is not reacting negatively to your body.
Chemotherapy does have side effects but with the help of a good doctor, the side effects can be managed well and will not cause the patient discomfort.
Nausea, diarrhoea, mouth sores, fatigue and fever are some of the common side effects that can be treated easily. Keeping in touch with the doctor is very important. Any discomfort which is increasing should be immediately reported.
Hair loss in chemotherapy- not all patients lose hair while undergoing chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs kill growing cells. They can’t differentiate between normal and cancer cells. So not only cancer cells, but also those found in the hair follicles, mouth and gastrointestinal tract are killed. That is why some patients develop mouth sores, nausea, diarrhoea and lose their hair.
What is Immunotherapy?
This is a form of treatment that boost a person’s immunity to fight the cancer cells. The patient’s immune system is stimulated with the help of certain drugs, proteins and other elements. This kind of treatment is easy to produce and administer and therefore can be used extensively. Immune cells travel throughout the body via the lymphatic system. Since cancer cells do not contain the same composition that normal cells contain, immunotherapy targets mostly cancer cells.
Biomarkers are tests that determine the level of abnormality. They give a clearer picture of the patient's genetic makeup, behaviour, and interactions with the immune system. Biomarkers in Immunotherapy are easy to obtain. Biomarkers are very important in cancer treatment because they determine the course of treatment.
Also for immunotherapy liquid biopsy can be conducted so that results can be obtained easily and quickly. General biopsy for immunotherapy assesses immune cell status rather than tumour characteristics. Which again is very unique to this treatment.
IHC- Immunohistochemistry assays are used widely because they can indicate the distribution and localization of specific cellular components within cells and in proper tissue context which doctors can use to provide better treatment. Its specific standards are laid down for immunotherapy. It is also easy to predict responses in patients being administered immunotherapy.
Immunotherapies are administered into a vein (IV), through an injection, under the skin or into a muscle some are injected directly into the body cavity where the tumour is located.
This kind of therapy also causes side effects like fatigue, fever, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, decreased appetite, rash and itching.
On the whole, immunotherapy is relatively cost-friendly.
Many oncologists prefer a combination of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy.
Several clinical trials are being conducted to increase the effectiveness and decrease the side effects of immunotherapy.
Depending on your case, symptoms, and stage of cancer Oncologist at Career Cancer Hospital, Bhopal MP decide which treatment to offer. Doctors use biochemical markers to decide the kind of treatment that is best for patients. Biochemical markers like hormones, enzymes, proteins, antigens, or antibodies produced or altered while cancer cells come together are studied carefully.
A team of specialised and dedicated doctors and staff are here to make this journey to fight cancer easy and successful.