Immunotherapy is a breast cancer treatment that is receiving a lot of attention in the medical and scientific community in recent years.
It aims to activate the patient’s immune system to fight cancer cells, thus offering an alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
In this article, we will show you its main characteristics and fundamentals. Let’s get started!
What is immunotherapy for breast cancer?
This treatment uses the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. It consists of stimulating T lymphocytes, which are the cells in charge of identifying and attacking cancerous cells.
Oncology uses it in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, to improve therapeutic efficacy and mitigate side effects.
However, not everyone is a candidate to receive it. It is necessary to understand that the results vary according to the type of breast cancer and the general health of the person receiving this therapy.
At present, it is a promising option that provides significant benefits on certain occasions.
Advantages and disadvantages of immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is presented as an innovative way to treat breast cancer. Its advantages include:
- It is capable of specifically targeting cancer cells.
- Reducesside effects compared to other treatments.
- The response to treatment is more durable.
- Greater control over cancer progression.
However, it is not all good news. There are also some drawbacks associated with its application:
- High cost.
- Lack of efficacy in some patients.
- Possible serious side effects, such as lung inflammation and autoimmune reactions.
Thus, despite the progress that its appearance represents, it is essential to analyze its application on a case-by-case basis. The risks and benefits must always be carefully considered before choosing it.
Immunotherapy procedure and number of sessions
There is no single procedure in immunotherapy for this cancer, because it adapts to the type of treatment being performed.
However, in general, these are its usual characteristics:
- It is administered intravenously.
- Cycles last from several weeks to several months.
- The number of sessions required depends on the patient’s state of health and response to treatment.
- It should always be administered under medical supervision and in a controlled environment. This is because it can produce side effects, although they are usually less serious than those of other treatments.
Is it an aggressive treatment?
It is true that its aggressiveness is lower than that of chemotherapy and, therefore, it represents an important advance in cancer therapies. However, since it can generate serious side effects, it is considered an aggressive treatment.
These negative side effects include fatigue, fever, nausea, chills, diarrhea and muscle pain. Occasionally, an allergic reaction occurs. In addition, it can affect the patient’s immune system, increasing the risk of infections.
There have also been cases in which its administration has led to respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.
Despite these side effects, however, many patients find immunotherapy an effective treatment for their breast cancer.
Although it can be administered equally to women and men, it is essential to thoroughly analyze each specific situation. Doctors and patients should review and discuss possible side effects before starting this therapy.
And, of course, careful follow-up must be maintained during and after treatment to ensure safety. Prevention should not only focus on the early detection of these tumors. It is also fundamental when applying their treatments.
The future of immunotherapy for breast cancer
The future of immunotherapy for treating this cancer is more than promising. Numerous clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate its efficacy:
- At different stages of the disease.
- In combination with other treatments.
Among the main objectives of advanced research is to establish biomarkers to identify the beneficiaries of immunotherapy.
In addition, new therapeutic strategies capable of enhancing the immune response against tumor cells are being developed. These include the use of personalized vaccines and modulation of the intestinal microbiota.
New immunomodulatory drugs that will act on different molecular targets and complement or replace current treatments are also being investigated.
As you can see, there are many expectations, possibilities and hopes for immunotherapy.
In conclusion, we can venture that this innovative technique has opened the door to new ways of treating breast cancer. Although it is not yet an excellent or general solution, it has a very promising future. Supporting research into its prevention and treatments is also in your hands – help spread a valuable collective awareness in this field!
