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What is Immunotherapy?

The human body has it’s own personal defense, the immune system, that is naturally inclined to fight viruses and diseases. Made up of complex cells and proteins, the immune system attacks foreign bodies to keep you healthy. Because cancer cells are mutated cells from your own body, the immune system doesn’t recognize them as foreign so it doesn’t attack them as they should.

This is where immunotherapy comes in. Instead of using chemotherapy to attack all rapidly dividing cells, immunotherapy stimulates your body’s natural defense, your immune system, to target cancer cells.

What does that mean for me?

Because of its more targeted approach, traditional cancer side effects are essentially eliminated with immunotherapy. Though it’s important to note that immunotherapy may be used in combination with chemo and/or radiation, immunotherpy is still on of the most prominent advancements in cancer treatment.