Immunotherapy

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your own immune system fight cancer. The immune system is your body’s natural defense against infections and illnesses. It is made up of white blood cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect you.

How Does Immunotherapy Work?

Cancer cells can sometimes hide from the immune system, making it hard for your body to recognize and attack them. Immunotherapy helps the immune system find and destroy these cancer cells. There are different types of Immunotherapy, and they work in various ways:

Boosting the Immune System: Some Immunotherapy treatments help your immune system work harder or smarter to attack cancer cells.
Marking Cancer Cells: Other treatments help mark the cancer cells so that the immune system can find and destroy them more easily.

Types of Immunotherapies:

Checkpoint Inhibitors: These drugs help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells by blocking proteins that stop the immune system from working properly.
Monoclonal Antibodies: These are lab-made proteins that can attach to cancer cells and help the immune system destroy them.

Is Immunotherapy Right for You?

Not all cancers can be treated with Immunotherapy, and it might not be suitable for everyone. Your doctor will consider the type of cancer you have, its stage, and other factors to determine if immunotherapy is an option for you.

At Mountain View Oncology, we are committed to providing personalized care. If you have questions about Immunotherapy and how it might help you, our team is here to provide answers and support.