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DiscussionWant to learn more about Immunotherapy for lung cancer
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Nov 3 12:18pm | Replies (44)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Those are targeted therapy drugs. So she has been having targeted therapy not immunotherapy, correct?"
@rockpine, I agree. For help with this conversation I'll add a basic understanding of the differences between targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
The targeted therapy drugs are controlling the cancer at the cancer's cellular level. My targeted therapy is turning off the bad gene that is causing the cells to over-replicate as cancer cells. These are generally taken orally by pill. The targeted therapy generic names will end in "nib" (dabrafenib, alectinib, etc.)
Immunotherapy drugs will train your own immune system to attack the cancer, to keep the cancerous cells at bay. These are generally administered by IV infusions. The generic names of the immunotherapy drugs will end in "mab" (atezolizumab), pembrolizumab. etc.)
Not all cancers respond to either method. That's why we need research and knowledgeable oncologists.