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Acknowledging World Cancer Day Through Advanced Cancer Treatment

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Published on February 02, 2021 | Est Read Time: 3 min

With world cancer day quickly approaching, we look back and see some of the major advances that have taken place in the war against cancer. These advanced treatments have played a major role in drastically improving patient outcomes and reducing in-patient visits. Cancer treatment today has evolved into non-invasive treatments like Immunotherapy, which are effective in treating various types of cancers like breast, Ovary, liver cancer. These modern treatments are increasingly looking at a patient's own defense against foreign inhibitors namely: the immune system, genetics, and molecules.

Traditionally, patients looking for cancer treatment had very few options. The three primary options were radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and finally surgery. These three treatments were also known as the three pillars of cancer treatment.  Over time there has been a drastic shift from these three forms of treatments to more targeted, personalised treatments and more intricate diagnostic tools. Additionally, combination therapies are increasingly being looked upon to stagnate the growth of cancerous cells.
 
Advanced Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is the latest form of cancer treatment that has led to significant interest in the medical community. This non-invasive treatment is a type of targeted therapy or biologic therapy that uses the body’s natural immune system to kill cancer cells. The way this works is through the immune system which produces antibodies that fight tumour cells. Research conducted by Escorts Cancer Mumbai indicates that this form of cancer treatment is showing better patient outcomes than traditional treatments like chemotherapy. What’s more? patients require fewer visits to the hospital with post-operative care being considerably lower.   
 
How does it work?
Immunotherapy is a special antibody that is administered to the body through a saline infusion. When the antibody enters your body it enhances the immune system by counteracting the effects of the cancerous cells. A cancerous cell or tumour inhibits the body’s immune system resulting in your body becoming more susceptible to diseases. When the antibodies are administered under immunotherapy or otherwise known as checkpoint inhibitors, they work against the cancerous cells or tumours and bring the body’s natural immune system back to life. The body’s immunity then gets reactivated and fights the cancerous cells.  
 
Types of Immunotherapy
There are primarily two types of immunotherapy treatments available in India.
 
1. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy is the most popular type of immunotherapy today. As mentioned earlier, the Monoclonal antibodies primary response is to target specific proteins prevalent in cancer cells that stop the growth of cancer. This drastically brings down the spread of cancer cells to the rest of the body and reduces metastasis (the breakdown of cells). Although this form of immunotherapy treatment has been around for some time, only some types of cancers are susceptible to this intervention. Some of the cancers include brain and breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma, some forms of leukaemia, neck cancers, and a few others.  

2. Passive Immunotherapy is the latest form of immunotherapy that is bringing about a fundamental change in how we see immunotherapy and cancer treatment in general. The basic premise of immunotherapy is that cancer need not be cured but simply controlled; like other chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes. In recent times, passive immunotherapy has shown great promise in enhancing the immune system to a degree where living with a cancerous cell or tumor may become a commonplace phenomenon equivalent to other chronic illnesses.

Know more about our Cancer Care Plan - Cancer Insurance Policy
 
Advances in Radiation Therapy

Like most other cancer therapies, there have been significant developments in Radiation Therapies over the years. Cyberknife and Gamma Knife radiation are some of the most advanced radiation therapies on the market today. These therapies use precision beams of radiation to target cancerous cells that are smaller than a millimeter. Cyberknife being the more advanced radiation therapy is completely non-invasive and requires very little post-hospitalization time period.

Final Thoughts
These advances in cancer care have enabled cancer specialists around the world to treat their patients with minimal damage to healthy cells and a speedy post-operative recovery. This world cancer day let’s look back at all the significant breakthroughs in cancer care and appreciate how far we’ve come in eradicating cancer once and for all. Moreover, let us educate ourselves and live a healthy lifestyle to minimize the possibility of cancer affecting our lives.

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