Pembrolizumab is a medication used to treat certain types of cancer. It's a kind of medicine called an "immunotherapy." Let's break down what that means:
1. **What is Cancer?**: Cancer is a disease where cells in the body grow out of control. They can form lumps called tumors and spread to other parts of the body if not treated.
2. **How Does Pembrolizumab Work?**: Our immune system is like our body's defense army. It fights off germs and helps keep us healthy. But sometimes, cancer cells can trick the immune system and avoid being attacked. Pembrolizumab helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.
3. **Targeting PD-1**: Pembrolizumab works by blocking a protein called PD-1 on immune cells. PD-1 is like a "brake" that stops the immune system from attacking healthy cells. But in cancer, PD-1 can also stop the immune system from attacking cancer cells. By blocking PD-1, pembrolizumab releases the brakes and helps the immune system fight cancer.
4. **Types of Cancer Treated**: Pembrolizumab is used to treat several types of cancer, including melanoma (a type of skin cancer), lung cancer, head and neck cancer, bladder cancer, and certain types of lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphatic system). It's often used when other treatments, like chemotherapy, haven't worked or have stopped working.
5. **Administration**: Pembrolizumab is given as an infusion, which means it's injected into a vein over a period of time. You might need to go to a hospital or clinic to receive the infusion, and a healthcare professional will monitor you during and after the treatment.
6. **Side Effects**: Like all medications, pembrolizumab can cause side effects. These can vary depending on the person and the type of cancer being treated. Some common side effects include fatigue, rash, diarrhea, nausea, and cough. More serious side effects are less common but can include problems with the lungs, liver, or thyroid gland. It's essential to tell our doctor about any side effects you experience so they can help manage them.
7. **Effectiveness**: Pembrolizumab has shown promising results in treating certain types of cancer, especially melanoma and lung cancer. In some cases, it has helped people live longer and with a better quality of life. However, not everyone responds to pembrolizumab, and it may not be suitable for all patients.
8. **Cost and Access**: Immunotherapy treatments like pembrolizumab can be expensive, and access to them may vary depending on where you live and your insurance coverage. Some countries have programs to help make these treatments more affordable for patients who need them.
In summary, pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy medication used to treat certain types of cancer by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. It's given as an infusion and can have side effects, but it has shown promise in improving outcomes for some cancer patients.
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Pembrolizumab
Absolutely! Let's break it down:
1. **Immune System's Role**: Our body has a defense system called the immune system. It fights off bad stuff like germs and helps keep us healthy.
2. **Cancer's Trick**: Cancer cells are sneaky. They can fool our immune system into thinking they're harmless, so the immune system doesn't attack them.
3. **Pembrolizumab's Job**: Pembrolizumab is like a superhero medicine. It helps our immune system see through cancer's disguise. It blocks a protein called PD-1 that cancer cells use to hide from our immune system.
4. **Releasing the Brakes**: When pembrolizumab blocks PD-1, it's like taking off the brakes from our immune system. Now, our immune system can recognize the cancer cells and attack them like they're supposed to.
5. **Fighting Cancer**: With the brakes off, our immune system can go full force against the cancer cells, helping to shrink tumors and stop cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
So, pembrolizumab basically helps our immune system become a better cancer fighter by unmasking the cancer cells and letting our immune system attack them more effectively.
Have any queries, book a consultation with our Oncology Clinical Specialist