If you or a loved one has breast cancer, you've probably heard the term 'immunotherapy' thrown around when it comes to treatment. Your doctor may have even mentioned it. So, what is this new treatment for many people? Can it really fight cancer? Let's talk about it in a simple way that you can understand.
So, what is Immunotherapy?
Simply put, immunotherapy is a treatment that uses your body's own disease-fighting system (the immune system) to help find and destroy cancer cells. It's like training your body's own "army" to recognize and attack "enemies" called cancer cells.
Currently, this treatment is most often used to treat a type of breast cancer called ``Triple-negative breast cancer'', which is difficult to treat, has a high risk of recurrence, and has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). Research is also ongoing to see how effective this treatment is for ``HER2-positive'' and ``ER-positive'' breast cancers.
How does this treatment work?
Think of our body's immune system as an army that protects a country. This army constantly searches for and destroys enemies like germs and viruses that enter the body. However, cancer cells are very cunning enemies. Sometimes these cancer cells disguise themselves in various ways to avoid being caught by our army. Like an enemy spy.
Here's what immunotherapy does:
1. Helping to recognize the enemy: Some immunotherapy drugs unmask cancer cells, clearly showing our immune system that "here is the enemy."
2. Strengthening the army: Other types of drugs work by strengthening the cells (soldiers) of our immune system, giving them more power to fight cancer cells.
There are two main ways to do this:
- Active Immunotherapy: This involves studying specific markers (antigens) on your breast cancer cells and training your immune system to attack only those markers.
- Passive Immunotherapy: In this, special drugs made in a laboratory are administered to the body to enhance the body's existing cancer-fighting capabilities.
What are the immunotherapy drugs used for breast cancer?
There are currently two main immunotherapy drugs approved for breast cancer.
1. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®): This drug is used to treat triple-negative breast cancer. It blocks a protein that cancer cells use to hide from the immune system. This makes it easier for the immune system to recognize the cancer cells. It is sometimes given before and after surgery to prevent the cancer from coming back. It is also used for cancers that have spread to other parts of the body and if the cancer has certain biomarkers in its DNA.
2. Dostarlimab (Jemperli®): This drug is used for breast cancer that has come back after other treatments and has a specific tumor marker.
The important thing is that not all of these drugs are suitable for every patient. Only your doctor can determine if this treatment is right for you, based on the type, stage, and presence of specific biomarkers in your cancer.
How is immunotherapy given?
This treatment is usually given as a saline solution through a vein (intravenous - IV). The treatment plan may vary depending on your condition. But most people receive this treatment every 3 to 6 weeks . Sometimes this treatment may need to be continued for several months to two years.
Let's also learn about side effects.
Like any cancer treatment, immunotherapy can cause side effects. But they don't affect everyone the same way. Some people may experience minor discomfort, while others may not feel anything at all. The most important thing is to tell your doctor about any discomfort as soon as possible.
Let's take a look at what are the common and serious side effects.
| Type of side effect | Things to expect |
|---|---|
| Common side effects |
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| Rarely serious side effects |
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Don't be alarmed by these side effects. Your doctor and medical team are always on the lookout for them. They will give you the necessary medications and advice to manage them.
How successful is this treatment?
Immunotherapy is one of the newest and most promising treatments in the field of cancer treatment. In particular, it has helped to increase the cure rate and extend the life expectancy of patients with previously difficult-to-treat cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer.
One major study showed that patients who received the immunotherapy drug Pembrolizumab along with chemotherapy lived longer than those who received chemotherapy alone.
Hundreds of studies are already underway around the world to investigate the effectiveness of immunotherapy for various types of breast cancer. As a result, this field is advancing day by day.
Take-Home Message
- Immunotherapy is not a drug that kills cancer cells like chemotherapy. It stimulates your own body's immune system to help fight cancer.
- This is a very important treatment, especially for `(Triple-negative breast cancer)`.
- Like all treatments, there are side effects, but they can be managed , so don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about any discomfort.
- Immunotherapy is a great hope for cancer treatment. Research is still ongoing, and it is possible that many more people will benefit from it in the future.
- The best way to find out if this treatment is right for you is to talk to your oncologist. They will be able to answer all your questions.
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