The Pros And Cons Of Immunotherapy

A key factor in the development of tumors is the ability of cancerous cells to evade recognition from the bodies’ natural defense against cancer, the immune system. Immunotherapies effectively block the pathways that shield cancerous cells from being identified, and thus the promote the bodies own anti-tumor response. However, one challenge to immunotherapy has been its combination with chemotherapy, the mainstay of cancer treatment. While chemotherapy is extremely effective in stopping the rapid division of cancerous cells, its toxic immunosuppressive side-effect make it difficult to combine with

In the past, Americans did not have much say in their own health care. In today’s time, with the advent of new health-care bills and peaked interest in personal well being, Americans are now anxious to determine for themselves what they need to maintain their own and their loved ones’ health. However, there are still government-regulated requirements for people of all ages in regards to keeping the general public healthy. Vaccinations have always been a topic of contention in regards to younger children, but have been a staple of health for older adults. In fact, college requirements for vaccinations are mandatory, and failure to get the proper vaccines before college starts could result in holds on college students’ accounts or delays in

Many doctors, physicians, researchers and biotech companies--including the revolutionary Seattle Genetics research facility--are now turning to antibody-assisted cancer treatments and precisely targeted cures instead of treating cancer with a cocktail of chemicals and radiation that generate risky side effects and damage the healthy tissue that patients need to recover. Cancers are among the most frightening and difficult-to-treat illnesses. Ranked as the leading cause of death and disability, cancer is actually an umbrella term that covers many different diseases. Each person faces a unique disease because cancers interact with the body's existing cells, so each case has a

The research presented in Jedd D. Wolchok “Cancer’s Off Switch” examines two different forms of immunotherapy used to treat cancer cells by boosting the patient's own immune system defenses. The article provides a comprehensive history of the scientific discoveries and previous research that lead to the immunotherapy treatments, specifically the different levels of the immune system. In addition, the article addresses two different methods of immunotherapy currently in testing in clinical use. The research is educationally significant because it focuses on the body's internal defense system and attempts to disable the brakes cancer cells enforce on the immune system, which has shown progress in both tumor size regression and improvements in

In 2003 there were two million deaths in children that were prevented because of immunization. This is a huge number; these lives were saved by vaccines. Children who are young and whose immune systems are not fully developed can die of illnesses that we as adults think are routine or not life threatening. What we do know is that if children are not immunized, illnesses like polio, measles, rubella, meningitis, and tetanus to name a few, will indeed return, with the cost being lives. There are also many social and economic risks associated with not immunizing children. It’s not only for their safety but for the safety of those around them. Recently parents have stopped immunizing children because of study

Cancer immunotheraphy is a concept that has been around for centuries. Back in the 1800s, a bone surgeon named William Coley injected his patients with a vaccine consisting of killed bacteria hoping it would stimulate the body's defense system. During the 1990s, physicians treated people with cancer with a cytokine treatment. This treatment involved high amounts of interleuken-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFNγ), also known as inflammatory cytokines. These inflammatory cytokines were released by white blood cells that fight infection (T cells). However, this treatment can have very dangerous side effects such as vascular leakage and kidney damage, but some people that received the cytokine treatment have lived for decades. In the year of 1996,

There is a huge issue arising in the United States over non-vaccinating your babies at birth to prevent certain illnesses. The main problem we are facing is whether or not it is a necessity to vaccinate your child at birth or expose them to life threatening illness by not vaccinating them. Another issue I will address is that now, parents have an option to immunize their child, as back in the early 2000’s they did not have an option; whereas now they do and it is causing utter chaos. This paper will discuss the current debate of immunizations across the United States. It will also talk about the pros and cons of vaccinating and not vaccinating your children.

Great post! Immunization is such a controversial issue. A recent article from ncsl.org stated that since the 20th century immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health achievements. Immunization not only protects the individuals, but the population as a whole, especially those with immune system disorders who cannot be vaccinated. Each state plays a significant role in determining the policies surrounding immunization. Lawmakers face many policy issues related to vaccines and immunizations including school requirements and exemptions, vaccination financing, and vaccine safety.

the many factors that play into the process of immunizing citizens, the decision to enforce

Many patients are dying of prostate cancer as standard treatments are not providing the necessary results. There are new types of immunotherapy drugs which are known to work miracles for several forms of cancer. The probability of this drug helping those with prostate cancer is extremely small. There has yet to be evidence collected about the benefits and pitfalls of the treatment. If doctors were to test it on patients outside of a clinical trial, then that could be up for debate within the medical community. The drugs can have potentially deadly side effects including liver failure and nerve damage, but most patients only experience minor problems. Doctors are able to determine from biomarkers if immunotherapy treatment will help patients, but that testing is not completely accurate. Some doctors believe that they should try every possible

Many parents believe that the MMR vaccine is the cause for the so-called ‘Autistic Epidemic.’ According to the Scientific American, “Across a mere 10-year period--1993 to 2003--statistics from the U.S. Department of Education revealed a 657 percent increase in the nationwide rate of autism.” (Arkowitz and Lilienfeld) Parents often worry that a mercury-based chemical called thimerosal causes very serious side effects including autism. Mercury, especially the methylmercury found in fish, can be toxic at high doses. Although the ethylmercury, found in thimerosal, contains a different chemical compound making it much easier to excrete and would need to be taken in ludicrous doses in order to experience any severe side effects. Likewise, several

As the world continues to suffer from these devastating diseases, researchers continue to find alternative therapeutic ways of addressing cancer treatment. It is on this premise that various immunotherapeutic alternatives have emerged and currently garnering the greatest level of attention and already raising hope throughout the world in addressing the treatment of NSCLC. However, this can no longer be viewed as a discovery but a wave in the medicine world that began in the 20th century. Various researchers have found the importance of the role of immune systems in fighting the growth of tumor caused by cancer cells. A study by Huncharek (2000) stated that specific immune boosters are capable of eliminating preclinical cancers. In contrast, Jermal et al. (2011) found that immunotherapy is an effective approach for the treatment of tumors that have already turned into solid. Similarly, the researchers highlighted that immunotherapy can be an effective approach to the treatment of melanoma as well as renal cell cancers (Lasalvia-Prisco, 2008). However, Jemal et al. (2011) noted that immunotherapy cannot achieve much in cancer treatment due to limitation brought about by the emission of immunosuppressive cytokines and subsequent loss of antigen expressions. Recent development in research studies on the immunotherapy approach to cancer treatment continues to elicit mixed reactions among researchers of medicinal ecology (Jadad et al., 1996). However, recent development in

Immunizations are the powerhouses leading preventative health. Immunizations have prevented diseases, eradicated some, and have saved many lives. In less than 10 years, some viruses have become completely extinct, or close to it. These diseases include smallpox, Hib, polio, measles, and diphtheria, just to name a few. State legislators have acted upon immunizations, and have made laws regarding them: “In all 50 states, the requirements cover diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, and rubella vaccines; 47 states require vaccination for mumps, 44 for pertussis, and 41 for hepatitis B. 49 states require a second dose of measles vaccine, 21 require varicella vaccine, and only 6 require hepatitis A vaccine. All 50 states require the Hib vaccine for

Immunotherapy is a form of medical treatment intended to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. This can be by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response. Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies, while those that reduce or suppress immune response are suppression immunotherapies. Active immunotherapy has been effective against agents that normally cause acute self-limiting infectious disease. However, a more effective immunotherapy for chronic infectious diseases or cancer requires the use of appropriate target antigens; the

Immunizations should be required for children to get from birth through their adolescent years. The immunizations are effective in helping to prevent diseases. All children should follow the immunization schedule because the benefits of getting the shots out way the risks of not getting them. The risk of getting the vaccinations are lower than actually contracting the disease. Some parents are unsure about the ways vaccinations are made and if they are beneficial for their children. It is important in bringing awareness of immunizations to protect children and their health. Immunizations affects society as a whole because the people that are not immunized can contract a disease and then spread it to others that are not immunized. Contracting