Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that utilizes your body’s natural defenses in order to seek out and destroy cancer cells.  It is a common initial treatment for cancers that have spread from its original location to other parts of the body, also called metastatic cancer, and is often used in combination with chemotherapy or other cancer treatments. Immunotherapy types include the use of checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, monoclonal antibodies and immune system modulators, among others. Immunotherapy includes new cancer treatment breakthroughs that have been shown to be very effective and help some people with cancer live longer.

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Clinical trials are the cornerstone of research advancements. A clinical trial is a voluntary medical research study that tests new ways to prevent, screen, diagnose or treat a disease. Cancer clinical trials help determine if a treatment, drug or procedure shows a better way of treating a particular cancer or condition. Clinical trials are crucial for understanding how patients respond to therapies and help pave the way for new care options.  In the past, patients were generally only able to access clinical trials at large academic medical centers, but SCRI Oncology Partners is dedicated to bringing clinical trials and the latest cancer treatments to the communities here in Tennessee.  By participating in clinical trials, you can access new treatments and therapies while also helping our oncology experts develop new medications and treatment strategies for others facing cancer.

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In the last decade, cancer research has rapidly expanded the list of cancer biomarkers with associated targeted therapies. Next-generation sequencing (NGS), also known as massively parallel sequencing, is a tool used by oncologists to determine a cancer’s biomarkers and decide on the best treatment for a specific patient. After taking a biopsy or blood sample, NGS allows clinicians to test those samples for mutations and biomarkers rapidly by testing many genes of a cancer simultaneously—saving time, money, and the need for additional tissue samples.  Next-generation sequencing is recommended for patients that have a cancer that commonly includes several molecular targets, and for which multiple tests might otherwise be necessary. If a target is identified, patients are often a candidate for a therapy that specifically targets the mutations on the cancer cell while sparing healthy cells. These can often be very effective and can spare many of the traditional side effects of chemotherapy.

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While we will help you through all aspects of care following a cancer diagnosis, palliative care specifically focuses on the variety of aspects that “coping with cancer” encompass for you. For many cancer patients, whether as a result of the cancer itself or the accompanying treatment regimen, there are aspects of care which bring heightened degrees of discomfort, anxiety or fear. Palliative care involves a customized approach toward managing your symptoms and is an important part of many patients’ treatment plans, regardless of prognosis. Helping you reach an understanding of your condition, ensure signs and symptoms are managed effectively, while preserving quality of life whatever that means for you.