Immunotherapy

What is immunotherapy?

It is a treatment option that induces the fight against cancer cells by the patient’s own immune system.

Are there collateral effects with immunotherapy?

Yes, but immunotherapy has fewer side effects than chemotherapy, and some patients may have no side effects at all. Patients treated with the method do not experience hair loss, nausea, vomiting and the characteristic weakness after chemotherapy treatments, but may have inflammation of the large intestine or lung. Immunotherapy is a treatment with less impact on the patient’s quality of life.

Is immunotherapy indicated to every type of cancer?

Currently, immunotherapy is indicated only for the types of cancer that it has proven to be more effective and has already been approved for use by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), such as:

Metastatic melanoma – a relatively rare, serious skin cancer that is very resistant to treatments such as chemotherapy and molecularly targeted drugs, which spreads to one or more parts of the body.

Metastatic lung cancer: incurable and inoperable disease. Immunotherapy, combined with chemotherapy, has shown excellent results.

The expectation is that the treatment will also fight bladder, stomach and kidney tumors in the future.