How Immunotherapy Fights Cancer

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps a person's immune system fight cancer. The immune system is made up of white blood cells and organs that work together to protect the body from infection and disease. Immunotherapy works by stimulating the immune system so that it can better recognize and attack cancer cells.

There are different types of immunotherapy drugs that work in different ways. Some immunotherapy drugs block proteins on cancer cells that help them hide from the immune system. Other immunotherapy drugs help immune cells find and kill cancer cells. Still, other immunotherapy drugs help immune cells grow and multiply.

Immunotherapy can be used to treat a variety of cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer. It is often used in combination with other cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Immunotherapy can be a very effective treatment for cancer. However, it can also have side effects, such as fatigue, rash, and nausea. These side effects are usually mild and go away after a few weeks. However, some people may experience more serious side effects.

Immunotherapy is a promising new treatment for cancer. It is being studied in clinical trials for a variety of cancers. As research continues, immunotherapy is likely to become an increasingly important part of cancer treatment.

Here is a more detailed explanation of how immunotherapy works:

* Cancer cells can escape the immune system by expressing proteins that block immune cells from recognizing them. Immunotherapy drugs can block these proteins, allowing immune cells to see and attack cancer cells.

* Immunotherapy drugs can also help immune cells grow and multiply. This can increase the number of immune cells that are available to attack cancer cells.

* Some immunotherapy drugs can activate immune cells so that they are better able to kill cancer cells. These drugs can cause immune cells to release toxins that kill cancer cells or to engulf and digest cancer cells.

Immunotherapy is a complex and rapidly evolving field of cancer treatment. New immunotherapy drugs are being developed all the time, and these drugs are showing promising results in clinical trials. Immunotherapy is likely to become an increasingly important part of cancer treatment in the years to come.