Tag Archives: Fighting Cancer

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy, Uncategorized

Non-Specific Cancer Immunotherapy Stimulates the Immune System

New Immunotherapy Drugs Can Help Fight Bladder Cancer
Non Targeted Immunotherapy

Targeted cancer therapies work by directly interacting with molecules that aid the growth and spread of cancer cells. Non-specific immunotherapy for cancer acts behind the scenes to bolster the immune system’s ability to fight cancer cells.

Types of Non-Specific Cancer Immunotherapy

Some non-specific therapies are administered on their own, while others are used as adjutants, which means they are used to supplement a main treatment such as a cancer vaccine. A few therapies are used in both ways, depending on the form of cancer being treated.

  • Cytokines are chemicals produced by certain immune cells that play an important role in the growth and activity of other immune cells. They are divided into interleukins, which speed up growth and division of immune cells, and interferons, which aid the body in resisting cancer as well as viral infections.
  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors help the immune system identify cancer cells that use certain proteins to evade detection.
  • Immunomodulating drugs (IMiDs) such as thalidomide, lenalidomide and pomalidomide appear to give a general boost to the immune system, although at present it’s not known exactly how they work.
  • Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a germ that triggers the immune system by infecting tissue, although it doesn’t present a threat of serious disease. BCG is one of the earliest forms of immunotherapy for cancer.

Issels® Uses Both Targeted and Non-Specific Immunotherapy

As a leader in the field of immunotherapy for cancer, Issels® uses advanced methods such as vaccines and LAK cells in our individually tailored treatment protocols. Contact us to learn more about how immunotherapy may be the answer for you.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors – The Role They Play in Cancer Immunotherapy

Using the Body to Fight Cancer
Using the Body to Fight Cancer

“Immune checkpoint inhibitors” is a term increasingly heard in reference to advancements in immunotherapy for cancer. These drugs have shown the ability to aid your body’s own immune system in attacking and killing cancer cells.

Lifting the Disguise from Cancer Cells

Think of checkpoints as your internal customs agents. Checkpoint proteins help the immune system differentiate between normal cells and foreign cells, then trigger a defensive response against the invaders.

Cancer cells sometimes have larger amounts of proteins than found in normal cells, which provide a camouflage allowing them to grow and divide without interference from the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors target the appropriate proteins, removing the “mask” so the immune system can do its job.

Types of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

PD-1, which is found on T-cells, acts as a checkpoint by binding itself to another protein called PD-L1, letting the T-cells know they should leave the other cells alone.

  • Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) target PD-1 on the T-cells.
  • Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) targets PD-L1, the protein that helps cancer cells evade the immune system.
  • Ipilimumab (Yervoy) targets CTLA-4, another protein found on T-cells.

These drugs have been successfully used to treat kidney cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Research continues on other types of cancer, using these drugs independently as well as in combination with other drugs.

Issels®: A Pioneer in Immunotherapy for Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are just one of the cutting-edge treatments used at Issels®. Our individually designed protocols may also include cancer vaccines and activation of natural killer cells. Contact us to learn more about our non-toxic, state-of-the-art protocols.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy

Monoclonal Antibodies – The Role They Play in Cancer Immunotherapy

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Fighting Cancer with Monoclonal Antibodies

Researchers have developed many new ways to treat cancer, and immunotherapy for cancer has played a large role in their discoveries. Here at Issels®, we’re proud to provide immunotherapy for cancer to our patients as a treatment alternative to chemotherapy and radiation.

In recent discoveries, extensive research has been conducted on Monoclonal Antibodies (MAbs) and the important role they play in treating cancer.

Understanding Antibodies and Their Role in the Body

When your body detects a foreign substance – whether it’s cancer cells or a common infection – your immune system immediately goes to work creating antibodies to fight what doesn’t belong in its environment. The foreign substance is called an antigen, and antibodies will search until it’s been found. Once it’s found, your immune system attacks it.

Researchers have found that by isolating certain antibodies and then reproducing them in a laboratory setting, they are able to target specific cancer cells.

How Monoclonal Antibodies are used in Immunotherapy for Cancer

Just as there are many different types of antigens, there are many types of cancers. MAbs have been shown to be effective against certain types of cancer. The challenge has been that the MAbs must be tailored to go after the right antigen, and that is causing a delay in using this treatment for all types of cancer.

Even so, research is ongoing and experts are hopeful that this new protocol might bring us one step closer to finding a cure.

Here at Issels®, we’re committed to providing you with the best immunotherapy treatment for cancer. If you would like to learn more about how this type of cancer treatment can help you, contact us.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy

Learn More about Immunotherapy a Type of Biotherapy

Harnessing The Body to Fight Cancer
Harnessing The Body to Fight Cancer

Thanks to cutting-edge advances and high-profile recipients like Jimmy Carter, immunotherapy for cancer has been in the spotlight over the last few years. Have you wondered what makes it different from other cancer treatments?

Harnessing your body’s natural resources

Immunotherapy is a form of biotherapy, which means that the treatments use living organisms to fight cancer. It works by giving your body’s immune system a helping hand in targeting and fighting cancer cells.

Cancer cells can trick your immune system by appearing similar enough to healthy cells that they aren’t recognized as a threat. The mutant cells then multiply so rapidly that the immune system can’t react and catch up.

Some immunotherapies work by making cancer cells more visible to your immune system so they can take action. Others work directly with your immune system to boost its response to cancer cells.

Different types of immunotherapy

  • Monoclonal antibodies are used for treatment called targeted therapy. They mark cancer cells to make them more easily recognizable to your immune system.
  • Cytokines are naturally created proteins that have a significant role in normal immune responses and the immune system’s ability to seek out and fight cancer.
  • Vaccines are normally thought of as preventive treatments, but cancer vaccines play an active role in strengthening the immune response.

Using state-of-the-art immunotherapy treatments

Our Issels® center uses these forms and other types of immunotherapy for cancer based on your own individual needs. Contact us for more information about our non-toxic treatment protocols.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy

What Every Person Should Know About Melanoma

Fighting Melanoma
Fighting Melanoma

The word “cancer” is something everyone dreads hearing, but in the case of a type of cancer known as melanoma, it can feel like a death sentence. Here at Issels®, we have had great success in treating our patients with immunotherapy; even those who have received late diagnoses and feel like they’ve lost hope. Even so, there are some things you should be aware of about melanoma and how it can progress.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer, and most of the time, patients are the first ones to detect that there is something abnormal about their skin. As you can probably guess, there are different types of melanomas, but the most serious is called melanoma IQ. This type of cancer can metastasize and spread to various parts of the body, including to internal organs.

In order to identify a case of melanoma, doctors use the ABCDE method prior to doing a biopsy. They check for:

A – Asymmetry

B – Border irregularity

C – Colors that change throughout a mole

D – Diameter that’s larger than 6mm

E – Evolving over time

These indicators are enough to cause most physicians to seek out a biopsy.

Prevention is always the answer when it comes to any type of cancer. Immunotherapy for cancer offers us much hope, but it’s important to know your risk factors so that you can detect it early on. For example, if you are Caucasian, and you have light skin, hair and eyes, you are at an increased risk. You’re also at risk if you spend a lot of time in the sun. Issels® can help you with immunotherapy for cancer.

Find out more about the Issels cancer treatment programs using cutting-edge immunotherapy programs today.

Cancer Survivors, Living with Cancer, Stress Management

Tips for Returning to Work after Cancer Treatment

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Getting Back to Work
Getting Back to Work

Resuming normal activities after immunotherapy for cancer is a good way to re-establish your sense of self and reduce the sense of isolation that may accompany treatment. Returning to work allows you to feel productive while interacting with others.

No matter how long you’ve been away from work, the transition back can be a little bumpy. Use these tips to prepare yourself for a smooth re-entry.

  • Talk to your supervisor about a more flexible structure as you become adjusted. Possible options include job-sharing or working from home.
  • You’re under no obligation to give your co-workers full disclosure. Decide how much and with whom you want to share.
  • Not all reactions will be positive. Some people feel uncomfortable in the face of illness, while for others it may trigger painful memories of a loved one who was diagnosed with cancer. A few co-workers may even be resentful about taking on additional responsibilities in your absence. Take some time to plan your responses to the various reactions.
  • Legislation like Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects the workplace rights of individuals with cancer and other health problems. Consult your company’s human resources department for more information.
  • Unfortunately, legal protection doesn’t guarantee an absence of discrimination. Document any workplace conversations you have about your illness and save copies of performance reviews in case problems should arise.

Our Issels® personalized immunotherapy for cancer is focused on your individual needs so there is a minimum of disruption to your lifestyle. Visit our website to learn more about our comprehensive non-toxic treatments.