Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that influences the body’s immune system to fight
cancer cells. This treatment boosts the immune system to attack cancer cells more efficiently.
Former President Jimmy Carter was arguably the most influential voice raising awareness of
immunotherapy back in 2015. This was all due to Carter’s melanoma diagnosis, which
introduced the world to immunotherapy and sparked future cancer research. According to
experts, millions of cancer patients are now living longer thanks to immunotherapy.
For many cancers, the treatment process is horrific, especially for cancer of the
esophagus. During this process, doctors go in and remove part of the stomach and esophagus.
This is also followed by chemotherapy and radiation. All of these treatments can leave a patient
feeling devastated and in pain. Although immunotherapy does not work for everyone, it is a
breakthrough treatment that has helped millions of devastated patients.
For this treatment to work, tumors must have a mismatch repair deficiency mutation.
This is very common in cancers such as endometrial and ovarian. Immunotherapy is not the first
treatment doctors try. Therefore, patients may still have the burden of chemotherapy treatments
and radiation. However, if neither works, immunotherapy is a great alternative that works a good
chunk of the time. Appointments involving immunotherapy are typically under an hour long, and
all you have to do is get connected to an IV. If patients repeat this for 6 months or less, they will
most likely be cancer-free. Being able to do this instead of removing certain body parts will be
significantly more efficient for patients.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/cancer-patients-immunotherapy-may-way-skip-surgery-chemo-rcna203038
