Immunotherapy works in one of two ways—it can boost mechanisms of the immune system so that it has more strength to fight cancer cells. Or, it can target and destroy certain receptors on cancer cells to prevent them from outsmarting the immune system.
Chemotherapy or “chemo” can shrink cancerous tumors, prevent cancer from spreading (metastasizing) elsewhere in the body, or relieve discomfort caused by a tumor.
More than 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer are cured, and chemotherapy is an effective treatment for childhood cancer.
Whether for screenings, diagnosis, or treatment for yourself or someone you care about, Yale Cancer Center offers multidisciplinary care.
Any problem that affects your healthy tissue and organs and arises as a result of cancer treatment is called a cancer treatment side effect.
Cancer treatments can cause a variety of short- and long-term physical side effects. Rehabilitation can treat the physical side effects of cancer treatment.
Immune therapy uses the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells. Pediatric cancer immunotherapy has become an important treatment for many childhood cancers.
Stopping smoking makes cancer treatments more effective, lessens treatment complications, and decreases the chances of cancer returning.
It’s important to know that fatigue comes with having cancer and is also a side effect of treatments.
If cancer runs in your family, or you are at high risk because of your age or other factors, talk to your doctor about cancer screenings.