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| Yes | 78% | 117 votes | Total: 150 votes | |
| No | 22% | 33 votes |
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Add to FavoritesAs a medical researcher involved in cancer immunotherapy research, I have seen the continual change taking place in the approach taken to treat cancer. Whilst chemotherapy and radiotherapy are still seen as the main treatments for early phase cancer or after surgery, the advent of immunotherapy as a viable alternative has seen the drastic increase in both researchers and resources being channeled into this area.
Why does immunotherapy work better? Diseases or disorders involving the dysfunction of the immune system (such as asthma) has its direct cause, usually due to the lack of regulation or the over-vigorous regulation of a particular immune function. Instead of trying to block or bypass these problems by drug or chemcial treatment, immunotherapy aims to correct the source of error, by recalibrating the imbalance in the immune system and restoring the natural order of activity within the body.
The catch to immunotherapy is that we are dealing with a complex system that also interacts with other vital systems of the body. Even though immune disorders usually have a direct cause, the treatment used generally only targets one particular aspect of the cause. This is due to the standards set by the FDA, which demands that clinical trials for treatment adhere to strict protocols and regulations. Therefore, clinical trials only allow a very basic therapeutic model to be tested, usually first in animals, then in gradually scaled-up versions of human trials.
The fact that cancer immunotherapy has failed to yield the spectacular results anticipated in cancer treatment is not an indication that the treatment has no potential, merely that the research and testing of therapies need to take on a more realistic approach.
It doesn't make sense to try and hit the body with chemicals to treat a biological malfunction. Even cancer patients regularly suffer relapse from chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments because the treatment doesn't cure the disorder by correcting the problem. A chemotherapy treatment is similar to using a napalm to clear out enemy troops in a rain forest. What it destroys is not only the cause of disease, but also the original system that is necessary to maintain the healthy state of the body.
Immunotherapy is about using the body's own defense system to correct its problems, the way our bodies were originally designed to function. It makes sense to most people, but its also up to the medical and research bodies to make sense of it in therapies.
Learn more about this author, laimh.
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No
Having been a chronic asthma sufferer for over fifty years, I could write volumes on the subject. Asthma is a very serious disease. I once suffered complete respiratory failure and woke up in the hospital on a ventilator in critical condition.
Asthma attacks are a frightening ordeal to contend with. Its scary for the patient and even more so if you are the parent of an asthmatic child. Sadly, two of my children have inherited it and one grandchild.
I take an inhaler daily to be able to breathe. If I get forgetful, my body will remind me by my breathing getting too "tight". To anyone who does not know what a severe attack feels like, try pinching your nose off and then try breathing through a straw. It's slow strangulation.
Rather than immunotheraphy helping my condition alone, I found the biggest help of all is knowing my "triggers" and avoiding them. Allergy testing is a must to help get asthma under control.
Emotional stress can exacerbate an attack but cannot cause it. Asthma is definitely a physical disease of the airways.
In some asthmatic cases, immunotherapy may lessen the need for asthma medication.
There are not enough conclusive studies, however, to prove either way that immunotherapy alone will decrease the need for medication.
Individually, it is a choice each one has to explore and come to their own personal conclusion.
Immunotheraphy is a great supportive idea in helping an asthma sufferer to improve their overall health, in some cases dramatically. However, it is not a cure for asthma. Immunotheraphy should be used in conjunction with sound medical treatment.
If immunotherapy is working and the need for medication is reduced, this is excellent. Any way to improve breathing and lessen attacks, is a boon.
Please, if you have young children, do not think immunotherapy alone will substitute for an informed allergist and asthma specialist's care or the need of prescribed medications to prevent and control attacks. Especially in the beginning.
Asthma is known as the "silent killer" because when not suffering from attacks, one can think the disease is not there. In reality its still there and just needs an allergen to set it off. Allergens are everywhere.
Immunotherapy will be very valuable in this regard, but one must first be aware of the enemy, the particular allergens/triggers that stir up the asthma.
Medical science is always searching to improve medications in treating asthma. I have seen much improvement over the last fifty years. It was always a trial and error to see what would work best for me. I now only have to use one inhaler once a day. This is a huge improvement for me.
Don't take a chance, especially if its your child. Sadly, there are over 5,000 deaths each year in the US alone and most could have been prevented, had medication been taken regularly on a good maintenance treatment program.
Learn more about this author, Victoria Rose Perkins.
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