Benefits vs. Side Effects of Immunotherapy

What is immunotherapy? It is a modern approach to treating various diseases, most notably cancer. It uses the body’s immune system to fight diseases, offering a promising alternative to traditional treatments. However, as with any medical treatment, it has both benefits and potential side effects that patients should be aware of.

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a treatment that harnesses the body’s immune system to combat diseases, especially cancer. By stimulating or enhancing the immune response, this therapy aims to fight abnormal cells, such as cancer cells, that would otherwise go unnoticed by the immune system. There are several types of immunotherapy, such as monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. It is becoming a popular option due to its ability to target diseases more specifically and less invasively than methods like chemotherapy.

Benefits of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy offers a range of advantages for patients, especially when compared to traditional treatments:

• Boosts the immune system: Immunotherapy enhances the body’s natural immune response to help fight cancer cells.
  
  

• Targeted action: Unlike chemotherapy, immunotherapy targets only abnormal cells, reducing damage to healthy tissue.
  
  

• Fewer side effects: As immunotherapy is more targeted, it tends to cause fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments like chemotherapy.
  
  

• Long-term effectiveness: Immunotherapy has shown the ability to provide long-term benefits, helping in some cases to achieve remission or reduced tumour size.
  
  

• Durable response: In many patients, even if cancer recurs, the immune system may still recognise and fight the disease effectively.
  
  

• Better survival rates: Immunotherapy has helped to extend the survival rates for patients with certain types of cancer, offering hope where other treatments have not.
  
  

Side Effects of Immunotherapy

While immunotherapy can be highly effective, it is important to be aware of the potential side effects that may arise during treatment. These side effects can range from mild to severe:

• Fatigue: Feeling tired or drained is one of the most common side effects of immunotherapy.
  
  

• Skin reactions: Rashes, redness, or itching can occur, especially at the injection sites.
  
  

• Flu-like symptoms: Fever, chills, and muscle aches can happen as the body reacts to the treatment.
  
  

• Gastrointestinal issues: Some patients experience nausea, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain.
  
  

• Autoimmune reactions: In rare cases, immunotherapy can trigger an overactive immune response, causing damage to healthy organs, such as the lungs or liver.
  
  

• Organ inflammation: The immune system might attack healthy organs, leading to inflammation or tissue damage.
  
  

• Infusion-related reactions: For those receiving intravenous immunotherapy, reactions to the infusion itself can occur, including dizziness, shortness of breath, and swelling.
  
  

What is External Beam Radiation Therapy?

While immunotherapy is a groundbreaking treatment, it's not the only option for cancer patients. External beam radiation therapy is another method that directs high-energy rays at a tumour to destroy cancer cells. Unlike immunotherapy, which boosts the immune system, what is external beam radiation therapy directly targets the tumour. It can be effective for localised cancers but may involve more side effects, like skin irritation and fatigue, compared to immunotherapy.

Conclusion

Immunotherapy is a groundbreaking treatment with several benefits, including targeted action against cancer cells and improved survival rates. However, it also has potential side effects, ranging from mild to severe. Patients should weigh these against the benefits and consider options like external beam radiation therapy as a complementary treatment.

By understanding both the advantages and risks, patients and healthcare providers can make informed decisions about the best treatment approach.