Your immune system is a complex network of cells and organs that constantly fights disease, illness and infection.
These organs and cells communicate with one another to identify and attack viruses, bacteria or other foreign substances, also called antigens, in your body. When your immune system encounters antigens, white blood cells create antibodies and signal other white blood cells to attack antigens, protecting you.
“The immune system plays a vital role in the prevention and eradication of diseases,” says Dr. J. Eric Turner, a board-certified and fellowship-trained medical oncologist at Beaufort Memorial Oncology Specialists. “Our immune system may play a role in cancer surveillance, but novel immunotherapy treatments are helping the immune system fight some cancer types.”
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Why the Immune System Doesn’t Protect You From Cancer
“Cancer cells are smart,” Dr. Turner explains. “They learn how to evade the immune system, and in doing so, they can survive.”
Cancer cells are not antigens, as viruses and bacteria are. Instead, they are mutated versions of your body’s own cells. That means your immune system doesn’t get the signal to fight cancer cells the way it does when you encounter germs.
“Cancer cells may also have proteins on their surface that interfere with your body’s immune response,” Dr. Turner says. “Tumors may change the healthy cells growing around them, making those healthy cells interfere with your body’s immune system.”
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How Cancer Affects the Immune System
Cancer not only avoids detection by the immune system, it also affects how the immune system works against other illnesses. Blood and bone marrow cancers, including lymphoma and most types of leukemia, impact the immune system because bone marrow is where immune system cells are made, according to Dr. Turner.
Certain treatments can also have an impact on cancer patients’ immunity.
“Chemotherapy lowers immunity because it decreases the number of neutrophils in the blood,” Dr. Turner says. “Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection.”
For this reason, cancer care often includes close monitoring for signs of infection or illness, and patients are encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle while receiving treatment. A healthy diet, regular physical activity and restful sleep each night can help the immune system’s ability to fight illness.
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Immunotherapy: Teaching the Immune System to Cure Cancer
Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that teaches the immune system to fight cancer.
“Immunotherapy medications can help the immune system fight more effectively, in some cases marking cancer cells for destruction, just as a healthy immune system does with antigens,” he says. “There are some leading-edge therapy options that are becoming available to help the immune system fight cancer as well as recognize it if it comes back.”
Immunotherapy is often recommended for patients whose cancer has not responded to standard treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation. In some cases, it is used in conjunction with those treatments.
Immunotherapy also has some benefits over those treatments, including fewer side effects, according to Dr. Turner. For example, chemotherapy targets cells that divide rapidly — cancer cells as well as, for example, cells in hair follicles and the gut. That’s why people undergoing chemotherapy lose their hair and experience nausea. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, helps target only cancer cells.
“We’re learning how to target cancers, reduce side effects and help patients live longer, healthier lives,” Dr. Turner says. “I encourage patients to ask their oncologist or primary care physician about these options.”
Patients can now access advanced cancer treatments at two locations:
the Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort and the New River Cancer Center at the Okatie Medical Pavilion.
