Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment technique that harnesses the power of your immune system to fight cancer. Pennsylvania patients should know that it is showing great promise when it comes to fighting lung cancer. That’s particularly true if the cancer is caught at an early stage.
Understanding immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is sometimes called biological therapy. There are two main types of immunotherapy. The first is activation immunotherapy, which triggers a response from the immune system. The other form is suppression immunotherapy. In this type of treatment, the drug reduces the response of the immune system.
Immunotherapy for lung cancer
A study shows that Atezolizumab is more effective at reducing the recurrence of cancer than chemotherapy. Atezolizumab reduced deaths and recurrence of cancer by almost 35%, compared to 16% for chemotherapy. This is particularly true for non-small-cell lung cancer. It’s expected that soon, the FDA will approve this treatment. It could even become the preferred first-line treatment for the most common kinds of lung cancer.
Non-small-cell lung cancer is thoracic, similar to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related lung cancer that commonly afflicts people who worked in trades or served in the military. It’s hoped that in the future, immunotherapy can unlock improved treatments for this kind of lung cancer, too.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by asbestos-related lung cancer, it may be a good idea to speak with a lawyer. An experienced attorney may be able to help you build a case against a manufacturer or former employer for the harm that has been caused.