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Ibd Sufferers: You Can End the Struggle

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Ibd Sufferers: You Can End the Struggle

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis eight years ago, and I was told that I would likely struggle with flare-ups for the rest of my life. I heard stories of other sufferers who had to eventually have their colons removed, and I became determined to not become part of this statistic. I was prescribed a daily medication that helps manage my condition, and although I don't like taking pills, I realize I need it to keep my colon healthy. I still experienced flares, so I began an elimination diet recommended by my doctor and found my "trigger" foods. I have now been flare-free for two years! I created this blog to help remind others with IBD that there is hope. You can end the constant struggle if you work with your doctor to try different methods of controlling your disease.

4 People Who May Benefit From Immunotherapy

30 March 2023
 Categories: Health & Medical , Blog

Immunotherapy is a spectrum of treatments that has the potential to benefit a wide range of patients. People often explore it as an alternative when other treatments fail or as an add-on to their current treatment plans. You should explore immunotherapy options if you're facing one of these four conditions.

Diagnosed Cancer

Doctors may remove immune cells from the body, recode them, and reintroduce them to go on the attack against cancer. There is also a different approach that tries to train the body's immune cells with a vaccine to recognize and attack cancerous cells. Some forms of monoclonal antibodies are also useful in managing diagnosed cancer cases.

Likewise, you may need inhibitors. The goal of inhibitors is to block interactions between your immune cells and cancer to limit adverse reactions.

Notably, doctors often reserve immunotherapy for difficult cases. If a patient has recurrent cancer, the doctors may use immunotherapy even after the cancer goes into remission to try to prevent a return. Also, this approach is popular for patients with some late-stage cancers.

Autoimmune Disorders

Many autoimmune disorders occur because the body's defensive systems are overzealous in their job. This may lead to the body attacking itself, as happens in many instances of lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Immunotherapy is also an option for individuals who have severe asthma or allergies that don't respond well to other treatments. A doctor's goal in these cases is usually to regulate the immune system in the hope of improving the patient's symptoms and reducing inflammatory responses.

Immunodeficiency

The opposite problem can also occur. A person's body can become too lax in its duties. Usually, an outside force triggers this issue. If someone contracts a disease like HIV or COVID, for example, their immune system can end up scrambled or almost disabled. Folks who are undergoing the organ transplant process may also be at similar immune risk. In these cases, the objective of immunotherapy is to restore the body's ability to respond to infections.

Mutations or Biomarkers

Some people carry specific mutations that increase their risk of developing cancer or autoimmune disorders. Even if these patients don't present with serious symptoms, a doctor may look for biomarkers indicating a high risk. Likewise, doctors will examine the families' histories to see if certain patients may want to preemptively address these factors. Researchers are also currently investigating the efficacy of immunotherapy for directly treating many genetic disorders.  

For more info, contact a local company like Alaska Oncology and Hematology LLC.