Immunotherapy for breast cancer
What is immunotherapy for breast cancer?
Immunotherapeutic drugs stimulate the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. There are various types of drug used in immunotherapy. For the treatment of breast cancer, the main type used is known as checkpoint inhibitors.
One way in which cancer cells survive is that they are not recognised by the immune system as abnormal, defective cells and therefore cannot be attacked. Checkpoint inhibitors prevent this and help the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells.
When is immunotherapy recommended?
Immunotherapy is not suitable for everyone. Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy if you have triple-negative breast cancer in stage II, III or IV.
Triple-negative breast cancer cells do not have hormone receptors or Her2 receptors on their surface. Your doctor will have your cancer cells tested to determine their receptor status.
What to expect from immunotherapy
Your doctor and the nursing team will carefully explain the immunotherapy treatment plan to you. They will clearly outline what to expect and answer any questions you may have.
How the treatment is administered
The most important type of immunotherapeutic agent for breast cancer is checkpoint inhibitors. They are usually combined with chemotherapy, so you may receive one or more drugs as an infusion into a vein at our centre.
An immunotherapy infusion session takes approximately 30 minutes. The whole appointment at the centre may last several hours. Our oncology nurses will make sure that you are feeling well before you go home, usually on the same day.
Duration of treatment
Immunotherapy is usually administered in cycles. You will be given your treatment once every three to six weeks. This gives your immune system time to recognise and attack cancer cells.
For people with stage II or III triple-negative breast cancer, immunotherapy treatment usually lasts for one year.
In the case of triple-negative stage IV breast cancer, tissue is tested to determine whether immunotherapy may be beneficial. Approximately 30–40% of tests show a positive result. You will receive the treatment as long as the cancer responds well to it and all side effects are manageable, which will be ensured by regular check-ups with your oncologist. This may vary from person to person.
Effects of treatment
During immunotherapy, the immune system sometimes becomes overactive. This can cause it to attack healthy cells, causing side effects. These may occur during or after treatment and even several months after immunotherapy. However, they can usually be treated, especially if they are detected early.
Side effects vary, depending on the type of healthy cells affected. If lung cells are affected, this can lead to symptoms such as coughing or chest pain. Your treatment team will help you understand possible side effects so that you know what to look out for.
Common side effects
Common side effects of immunotherapy include:
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and joint pain, exhaustion
- Gastrointestinal complaints, e.g. diarrhoea, pain, nausea, vomiting
- Overactive or underactive thyroid gland or other hormone-producing glands
- Skin reactions, e.g. rash, dry or flaky skin, itching
- Feeling of cold
- Weight gain or loss
- Inflammation of various organs: Liver, kidney, lungs, etc.
Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish these side effects from the side effects of chemotherapy. If you notice any changes in your health during or after immunotherapy, you should contact your oncology nurse immediately. They can offer treatment and counselling to manage the symptoms, especially if this is done at an early stage.
