Diagnosis and Treatment Methods in Cancer – Medical Oncology – Immunotherapy

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In addition to traditional methods such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, a treatment method called immunotherapy has started to play an important role in the treatment of cancer patients in recent years.

Immunotherapy is a method that targets cancer cells using the body’s natural defense mechanism, the immune system, and thus helps to treat the disease. In this article we have written for you, we will give general information about immunotherapy and try to answer the questions about how it affects cancer disease and types of immunotherapy.

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a treatment method that basically strengthens or modifies the immune system to fight against cancer cells. It is a method that targets cancer cells using the body’s natural defense mechanism, the immune system, and thus helps to treat the disease. Immunotherapy can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, destroy cancer cells without damaging the healthy tissues around the cancer cells and prevent the recurrence of cancer.

How Does Immunotherapy Affect Cancer Disease?

Immunotherapy helps the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Cancer cells, unlike normal cells, constantly divide, grow and multiply. In this process, the immune system tries to detect and destroy cancer cells. However, some cancer cells can bypass the immune system and continue to grow. Immunotherapy helps the immune system to detect and target these cells more effectively, allowing cancer cells to be destroyed.

What Are The Types of Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy treatment can be applied in different ways and there are various types. The main types of immunotherapy can be briefly explained as follows;

Monoclonal Antibodies: By binding to certain proteins on cancer cells, it enables them to be recognized and targeted by the immune system.

Checkpoint Inhibitors: Drugs that increase the effectiveness of the immune system against cancer cells and help the immune system cells to destroy cancer cells more effectively.

Cancer Vaccines: Vaccines are used to increase the immune system’s response to cancer cells, helping the body to recognize and target cancer cells more effectively.

T Cell Transfer: It is the reproduction of the patient’s own immune cells in the laboratory environment and giving them back to the patient to fight against cancer cells.

Cytokine Therapy: It is a treatment method using proteins that increase the activity of immune system cells and destroy cancer cells.

What Are The Benefits of Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a method used in cancer treatment that strengthens the immune system and enables it to fight against the disease. Immunotherapy has many benefits. Some of these benefits can be explained as follows;

• Immunotherapy targets cancer cells and provides treatment without damaging healthy cells. In this way, the quality of life of patients increases and the treatment process is more comfortable.

• The success rates achieved with immunotherapy show a longer-lasting effect compared to other cancer treatments. The immune system learns cancer cells and fights them faster and more effectively in case they reappear.

• Immunotherapy can also be effective in cancer types that are resistant to other treatment methods. In this way, it offers new treatment options for patients.

• Immunotherapy has fewer side effects than treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This allows patients to spend the treatment process more comfortably.

• Immunotherapy can be used in combination with other cancer treatments. In this way, the effectiveness of the treatment increases, and the healing process of the patients is accelerated.

In Which Cancer Types Is Immunotherapy Used?

Immunotherapy is an effective treatment method that can be used in many types of cancer. Some of the cancer types in which immunotherapy is used can be listed as follows;

• Lung Cancer ,
• Melanoma,
• Kidney Cancer ,
• Bladder Cancer,
• Head and Neck Cancers,
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma,

Are There Any Side Effects Of Immunotherapy?

The side effects of immunotherapy are generally less than other cancer treatment methods. However, as with every treatment method, immunotherapy also has some side effects. Some of the side effects of immunotherapy are as follows;

• Fever and chills,
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin reactions,
• Side effects related to the immune system,

Each patient’s response to immunotherapy is different and side effects may vary from person to person. Side effects experienced during the treatment process should be shared with your doctor and necessary precautions should be taken.

How Is Immunotherapy Performed?

Immunotherapy is a method used in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer and allergic diseases. This treatment allows the body to fight diseases more effectively by strengthening the immune system. How immunotherapy is performed may vary depending on the type of disease and the patient’s condition. The basic application methods of immunotherapy are as follows;

Allergy Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy used in the treatment of allergic diseases aims to increase the patient’s tolerance to substances to which the patient has an allergic reaction. In this method, small doses of allergens are given to prevent the body from overreacting to allergens. Allergy immunotherapy can be applied in two ways:

Injection Immunotherapy: This method, in which allergens are injected under the skin, reduces the severity and frequency of allergic reactions. The course of treatment initially starts with weekly injections and then decreases to one injection per month.

Sublingual Immunotherapy: In this method, allergens are administered in tablet or drop form under the tongue and patients can use the allergens at home. The course of treatment usually lasts for several years.

Cancer Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy, which aims to activate the immune system to destroy cancer cells, can be applied with various methods:

Monoclonal Antibodies: Laboratory-produced antibodies that target proteins specific to cancer cells and activate the immune system.

Tumour Vaccine: Vaccines containing parts of cancer cells or dead cancer cells enable the immune system to respond more effectively against cancer cells.

Cytokine Therapy: It is carried out by administering proteins that support the growth and activation of the cells of the immune system.

T Cell Transfer: It is applied by multiplying the patient’s own T cells in the laboratory environment and giving them back to the patient to destroy cancer cells.

Where Is Immunotherapy Performed?

Immunotherapy is performed in hospitals and clinics specializing in allergy and cancer treatment. In addition, university hospitals and private health centers can also offer immunotherapy services. Immunotherapy applications should be performed by experienced doctors and health professionals. During the treatment process, patients should be checked regularly and their compliance with the treatment should be monitored.

How Long Does Immunotherapy Last?

The duration of immunotherapy may vary depending on the type of disease, the treatment method, and the patient’s condition. Allergy immunotherapy usually lasts between 3 and 5 years, while cancer immunotherapy treatment may last shorter or longer. In cancer immunotherapy, the duration and effectiveness of the treatment depends on the patient’s cancer type, stage and general state of health. Throughout the immunotherapy process, patients’ compliance and response to treatment should be evaluated with regular controls and treatment plans should be adjusted accordingly.

Immunotherapy Treatment Prices in Turkey

Turkey has managed to announce its name to the world with its investments and studies in the field of health. Especially the latest technological devices used in diagnosis and treatment procedures have been a beacon of hope for many diseases. However, there has been an increase in health tourism in Türkiye.

• Hospitals are large, clean, spacious and fully equipped in terms of technological equipment.
• Turkish doctors are specialized, successful, and skilled in their fields.
• Nurses and carers are friendly and compassionate.
• Finding answers to the questions asked quickly and accurately.
• Patience and understanding of all staff, including the intermediary company dealing with the patient.
• Turkey offers holiday opportunities with its natural and historical beauties.
• Easy transportation.
• Diagnosis, treatment, accommodation, eating, drinking, dressing, and holiday needs can be met at affordable prices.

Such situations are shown among the reasons for preference. We can see that patients and relatives of patients who want to come to Turkey are doing research on Immunotherapy Treatment Prices in Turkey. However, it would not be right to give clear price information at this stage. Many factors such as the type of disease, stage, diagnosis process, treatment process, and stay in Türkiye affect the price issue. If you want to get more detailed price information, you can contact us. In addition, if you come to Turkey for treatment through us, we can facilitate your visa application process with the invitation letter sent by us to the consulate.