Immunotherapy: The Cause Of Cancer

In a world where “cancer” is a frightening world, the word “chemo” can sometimes be just as scary. Since cancer is one of the most common causes of death among people in developed nations, there is constant research being done to find effective treatments and possible cures. Chemotherapy has long been the most common treatment associated with cancer. However, chemo is often known for causing side-effects almost as threatening as the cancer itself due to its toxicity. As new alternative methods are being developed in attempt to replace chemo, one treatment is displaying encouraging potential. Immunotherapy is the use of the cancer patient’s own immune system to defeat the cancer cells, rather than filling the body with virulent medicine to target the malignant cells. This is not necessarily a new idea, as the immune system has been used to fight bacterial and viral infections for a long time, but the use of immunotherapy in battling cancer is rather revolutionary. …show more content…
The human immune system functions specifically to attack foreign substances that cause disease. Yet, since cancer cells are produced as mutations within the body, they are often not recognized as a threat by the pathogen-tracking immune cells. The goal of immunotherapy is to alter the immune system so that those cells are used to fight the cancer cells. One type of immunotherapy involves a doctor withdrawing the patient’s
With overwhelming support and proof that this treatment is efficient, immunotherapy could transform the standard approach to cancer. Instead of contaminating the body with chemicals, immunotherapy has the potential to not only exterminate cancer, but also diminish its chances of resurfacing. Immunotherapy is likely the bridge