Cancer is an ailment that affects people world-wide. Each day a number of patients lose their precious lives because of this ailment. The rapid advancements in the field of cancer care has given rise to a wide range of treatment options. These treatment options are available at reputable hospitals like the Novena Cancer Centre. One of the latest and most advanced treatment strategies among them is immunotherapy. This treatment technique primarily aims to encourage our body’s immune system to attack malignant cells. Thereby, it helps in eradicating different types of cancers, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer Singapore, and more. Though quite effective when compared to other treatment approaches, immunotherapy does come with several challenges. Read on to discover what these challenges are.
Challenges Associated With Immunotherapy Treatment
Though immunotherapy produces excellent results in certain cancers, such as lung cancer Singapore, there exists quite a few challenges. Let’s explore these challenges in detail.
- Unpredictable efficacy: One of the primary challenges associated with immunotherapy treatment is the unpredictable efficacy associated with it. Some immunotherapy treatments have only been effective in a small subset of malignant growths and typically in a small proportion of patients. The variable response to immunotherapy makes it extremely difficult to predict the efficacy of this treatment technique.
- Certain cancers are difficult to treat with immunotherapy: Some cancers that sit in a protective environment are difficult to treat using cancer immunotherapy Singapore. This is especially applicable in the case of tumors that occur in the brain. During such instances, the healthcare professionals have to switch to other effective and safe treatment approaches.
- Often triggers autoimmune diseases: Immunotherapy treatment gives rise to an immune system with too many brakes removed. This can put the patient in risky situations and sometimes trigger different autoimmune disorders.
- Induces different side effects: During some instances, the heightened immune response might become overstimulated or misdirected. This, in turn, induces different side effects, ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening conditions. Some of these side effects include respiratory problems, flu-like symptoms, endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal issues, inflammation-related issues, neurological complications, and more.
- High treatment cost: Another notable challenge associated with immunotherapy is that it involves a high treatment cost. As a result, some patients might find it quite difficult to afford this treatment strategy.
- There is a need for more research in this domain: There exists a significant need for more research in this domain. This will help in overcoming the existing challenges and enhancing the overall treatment outcome.
Conclusion
We have discussed elaborately regarding the common challenges associated with cancer immunotherapy Singapore. To unlock the full potential of this treatment strategy, further research and developments in this domain are necessary. Novena Cancer Centre is a reputable and reliable healthcare facility that offers top-quality treatment for different types of cancers. The highly efficient team at Novena Cancer Centre can administer treatments like immunotherapy with great accuracy and precision.
