The immune system is the body’s natural defense system against viral and bacterial infections, including those that lead to cancer. When diagnosed with cancer, the addition of a monoclonal antibody treatment can support the body’s ability to detect, kill, and discard damaged or abnormal cells.
Treatments that utilize monoclonal antibodies can subsequently support the body’s natural cancer defense systems and be implemented in conjunction with associated treatments.
Monoclonal antibodies essentially substitute antibodies that are created in laboratories with the aim of supplementing the body’s natural immune system. They come in the form of drugs and medications that bind with antigens found in cancerous cells rather than healthy cells before subsequently attracting antibodies to fight the problematic cells.
Monoclonal antibodies can be made in four ways. They are Murine (ending in -omab), Chimeric (-ximab), Humanized (-zumab), and Human (-umab). In each case, they serve the same primary function.
Monoclonal antibody treatment uses FDA-approved drugs to help fight an extensive range of cancers. Brain cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancers, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, melanoma, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and lung cancer are all potentially treated with monoclonal antibodies – either as a standalone treatment or as a part of the overall treatment.
A monoclonal antibody treatment is one that uses this immunology enhancing system to support the overall cancer treatment. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy are two of the most common partners for the use of monoclonal antibodies, while a range of drugs can be used with the goal of boosting immunity defenses.
Monoclonal antibody treatments use intravenous methods to administer the drugs directly into the vein so that they can be absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly. Some monoclonal antibodies identify cancer cells, enabling the immune system will better recognize and destroy them, which makes them a key part of immunotherapy.
In other cases, the binding to cancer cell surfaces draws the body’s natural immunity cells towards the target, helping it to combat the mutation. Depending on the drugs used, monoclonal antibodies can do a number of things, including;
Following the cancer diagnosis and decision to use monoclonal antibody treatment, Cochise Oncology can talk to you through the treatment, including the choice of monoclonal antibodies to be used. It’s important to keep your body in the best health to give your immune system the best chance at responding well. On the day itself, though, very few changes are needed. Moreover, the spa-like surroundings of our world-class center keep you in a comfortable position.
The monoclonal antibody treatment is a personalized solution that will be tailored to suit your requirements. This means that the duration of treatment can vary greatly depending on the type of cancer, the drug you are set to receive, your age, and whether it is being used with other cancer treatments.
When used with chemotherapy, for example, you may need to undergo several rounds of the monoclonal antibodies in the weeks leading up to the treatment. In most cases, the intravenous administration takes just a few minutes.
Monoclonal antibody treatment comes with fewer risks than various alternative cancer treatments. However, common side effects include flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, low blood pressure, nausea, and allergic reactions. Severe reactions and issues with the heart and lungs are uncommon, but must be treated ASAP if they do surface.
*Individual Results May Vary
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