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Immunotherapy for kidney cancer

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy for kidney cancer is a type of treatment that activates the immune system so it will attack cancer cells. It helps the immune system view the cancer cells as foreign cells, just like virusses and bacteria. The immune cells will start cleaning up the cancer cells. This is called an immune response.

The treatment does not directly target the tumor (like targeted therapy), but aims to strengthen the immune system itself.

What are the effects of immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy cannot cure the cancer, but it can extend your lifespan. Currently immunotherapy only proves effective in 1 out of every 4 patients. We cannot predict whether the treatment will work for you.

There are several factors that determine whether immunotherapy is an option for you, and which type of immunotherapy would be most suitable. Your attending physician will discuss your options with you.

What are the side effects?

Different people respond differently to the treatment. The exact side effects you experience depend on the type of immunotherapy you will receive, other prescription drugs you might take, and your sensitivity. Your immune system might start fighting your own body, which will cause feverishness, gastroenteritis, or skin rash. We will try to make the immunotherapy as comfortable as possible for you.

 

Immuuntherapie video KWF

What is immunotherapy?

Watch this animation by the Dutch Cancer Society for more information about immunotherapy: what is it exactly, how does it work, and which cancer types does it treat?
Immuun Longkanker

How does immunotherapy work?

Our immune system (T cells) look for abnormal cells in our body, and destroys them. Cancer cells try to surpress these cells. Find out how immunotherapy affects these checkpoint inhibitors