What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, the immune system helps your body fight infections and other diseases. It is made up of white blood cells and the organs and tissues of the lymph system. Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy. That means it uses substances made from living organisms to treat cancer.
The immune system normally finds and destroys abnormal cells. It most likely prevents or curbs the growth of many cancers. But cancer cells have ways to avoid it. Some become less visible to the immune system. Others turn immune cells off. Immunotherapy helps the immune system act better against cancer.
Several types are used. They include immune checkpoint inhibitors, T-cell transfer therapy, and monoclonal antibodies. Treatment vaccines and immune system modulators are also used. Your healthcare team can tell you whether immunotherapy is an option for your type of cancer.
Want the full picture? Read our complete explanation: What Is Immunotherapy? Cancer and the Immune System
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