Experiences with Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets parts of the immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy has two main functions; it can strengthen your immune system to work harder or smarter to attack cancer cells, and it can give man-made immune system components such as proteins. Immunotherapy can be an independent treatment plan, but it often works well with other cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. There are three main types of immunotherapy including monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, and non-specific immunotherapies. Immunotherapy is currently being used to treat cancers such as cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, kidney, lung, and prostate, as well as leukemia, multiple myeloma, and melanoma.
Many cancer patients wonder if they can boost their immune system through natural methods, however it is difficult to do this without immunotherapy drugs. As we know, people with healthy immune systems still develop cancer. Immunotherapy is a specific and deliberate treatment plan to discuss with your doctor. There is merit in trying to boost your immune system simply by keeping a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and by trying to get the nutrients that you need. A strong immune system is helpful in fighting infections that can come from cancer treatments. Immunotherapy is a relatively new kind of cancer treatment; if you have had experience with immunotherapy, then post or comment below to share your firsthand insights with others who may be considering immunotherapy.
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- mockingbird
- Experience with Skin Cancer - Mela...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
My dad started biweekly treatments but did so well with no side effects he has started monthly treatments with double dose. Will wa...
Easy to Do: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
- DianeShepard
- Experience with Skin Cancer - Mel...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Side effects have knocked his socks off! Fatigue, nausea, GI issues, etc.
Easy to Do: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
- papabill
- Experience with Skin Cancer - Melanoma
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Just received initial perfusion - Keytruda - January 23, 2018 after initial diagnosis of melanoma on scalp with follow-up surgery in...
Easy to Do: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
- Susiewb50
- Experience with Non-Small Cell, Lung...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
My most notable side effect is with my skin. I have developed patches of rash that are bright red and itch terribly. Skin is dry and...
Easy to Do: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA -
- caensminger
- Experience with Skin Cancer - Mela...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Started Pembroluzimab/Keytruda along with Mekinist chemo at the same time. It's hard to determine which caused what side effect. M...
Easy to Do: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
- caensminger
- Experience with Skin Cancer - Mela...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Switched immunotherapy to Nivolumab.
Easy to Do: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
- caensminger
- Experience with Skin Cancer - Mela...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Now I'm stage 4. Ipimumilab worked before, so I went back on it.
Easy to Do: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
- DonnainRI
- Experience with Skin Cancer - Melanoma
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Started Opdivo and Yervoy on the 16th of January. No real effects as of yet, but they gave me a huge list of possible side efects/to...
Easy to Do: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA -
- pinkpeachescat
- Experience with Skin Cancer - M...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Keytruda/Opdivo for 2 years. I stayed on Keytruda for about 9 months, then switched to Opdivo because I was fainting when they would...
Easy to Do: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
- pinkpeachescat
- Experience with Skin Cancer - M...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Yervoy, 4 doses
Easy to Do: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
- pinkpeachescat
- Experience with Skin Cancer - M...
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
High Dose Interferon, 9 months. Very difficult, in bed with fever for most of the time.
Easy to Do: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
- Tgrosso
- Experience with Skin Cancer - Melanoma
Immunotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
The side effects written in info/papers say less than those that what I and other patients are currently going through. Currently on...
Easy to Do: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Neutral/NA Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree