Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is currently delivered using four different methods, depending on your personalised treatment plan.

Intravenously – a small needle inserted directly into a vein
Orally - prescribed as a course of tablets or pills to swallow
Topically- a cream that gets rubbed into the skin
Intravesical- a catheter that delivers treatment directly into the bladder

All the Rutherford Cancer Centres, we offer immunotherapy within our spacious and comfortable treatment therapy suites.

Depending on the type of cancer and your personalised treatment plan, the length of immunotherapy treatment may vary. For example, when delivered intravenously, patients may spend several hours, or a full day, receiving a single treatment of immunotherapy. The length of the full immunotherapy treatment will vary depending on your individual situation. Our consultants can provide you with more information on the types of immunotherapy we offer, which may be best for you, and how long treatment could take.

Treatment Finder

Our team is here to support you on your cancer journey, with treatments and wellbeing services.

Get started

This treatment finder is designed to help you find out more about certain types of cancers and how they might be treated at the Rutherford. To get started, simply click a gender option below, and an area of the body for more information.

Everyone is different, so treatment options for certain cancers will vary from person to person. An oncologist will discuss which treatment options will be best for you.

Back

Billary System Bowel Breast Head & Neck Lung Lymphoma Neurological Oesophagus Prostate Sarcoma Urological

Skull Base Spine

Billary System Bowel Breast Gynaecological Head & Neck Lung Lymphoma Neurological Oesophagus Sarcoma Urological

Skull Base Spine

Head & Neck Lung Lymphoma Sarcoma

Rotate

Cancers we treat with Proton Beam Therapy

Before treatment begins, one of our oncologists will discuss and explain what your treatment options are, and if further treatments or services will be required.

Proton beam therapy can be used as a sole method for treating certain cancers or used in combination with other cancer services, such as chemotherapy, or to ensure that any remaining cancerous cells are destroyed following tumour removal surgery.

Areas of the body we currently treat with Proton Beam Therapy:

Bowel
Brain
Breast
Head & Neck
Lung
Lymphoma
Oesophagus
Prostate
Sarcoma
Skull base
Spine
Vaginal

Return to region selection

How does immunotherapy work?

Our natural defences do not target cancer cells, as they can hide from the immune system. They do this by either escaping defensive cells or by producing signals to cause the immune system to ignore the cells. Aggressive cancer cells can also overwhelm the immune system, preventing it from stopping the growth of these cells, even if the immune system identifies them.

Immunotherapy works by encouraging the immune system to attack the cancer cells, and this can be achieved by making these cells recognisable to the immune system or by blocking the pathways that cancer cells use to hide from our natural antibodies.

Our immune system is our natural defence and has evolved to defend the body against diseases and infection without causing further damage to healthy cells. By using immunotherapy as a treatment, we can provide the immune system with the necessary defences to work more efficiently against cancer cells.

Immunotherapy may be useful in treating many kinds of cancers, but may not be effective for everyone. Our consultants and clinical teams will be available to discuss potential benefits of immunotherapy with you and if it may be suited to your needs.

The benefits of immunotherapy

Although immunotherapy can cause side effects, it can be beneficial to patients in specific circumstances. Everyone is different, and the benefits you see from having immunotherapy will differ to others, here are some common benefits:

It helps your own immune system attack cancer cells
It may be effective where other treatments are not an option
It boosts your immune system, enabling it to get the best out of other treatments
It may help keep your immune system active during and following chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment

Watch Video

What is an infusion therapy?

Infusion therapy is a term that can be used to describe chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, where drugs are delivered to your body intravenously or subcutaneously - find out more about infusion therapy by watching our video.

Watch the video

Watch Video

An overview of how immunotherapy works

Immunotherapy, also known as targeted therapy, helps target cancer cells through using your body's own immune system. Find out more by watching this video by Macmillan Cancer Support.

Watch the video

We're here for you

It’s important that you feel supported, not only during your treatment but also afterwards, to give your body the best possible chance to heal.

After treatments your recovery will be supported by regular follow-up checks with your consultant. These will vary depending on the area of your body that's been treated, and the amount of treatment you've received. Follow-up appointments are used to help keep track of your recovery, so if you have any concerns you will have the opportunity to discuss them with your consultant.

The diagnosis of cancer combined with possible side effects can affect how you feel. Your treatment team is here to support you, and we encourage you to talk to us. Sometimes just talking about your emotions can be of great help and if necessary, we can arrange for further advice and support.

Macmillan Cancer Support offers a wide range of information and support, as well as help with your practical, emotional, and financial needs. All telephone helplines are free and confidential, and interpreting services are also available.

If you have cancer, it's understandable you might be worried about coronavirus. Here is the latest guidance from Macmillan.

Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 8.00pm)
www.macmillan.org.uk

Are there any side effects of immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy drugs act on the immune system and may cause inflammation in certain parts of the body. Some side effects begin during treatment, but they can sometimes happen months after the last treatment session. It’s important that any side effects are treated when they occur, our treatment staff will always be on hand to advise patients on managing them and provide relief of symptoms.

Where is immunotherapy available at the Rutherford Cancer Centres?

We currently offer immunotherapy at our centres in the North East, South Wales, and Thames Valley.

International patients can also travel to the UK to be treated at the Rutherford, where we offer a full concierge service, to make it as seamless as possible for any patients travelling to us. More information on this can be found on our international patients page.

How much does immunotherapy cost?

The total cost of immunotherapy treatment is unique to a patient's individual needs, including the area affected and the length of treatment. There is no one-size-suits-all pricing bracket; instead, a personalised cancer treatment plan will be built for every patient that comes to Rutherford Cancer Centres. Please contact us for more information.

Find out more about proton therapy

Treatments

Videos

News & Press

What is immunotherapy?

Find out more about the cancers we treat

Treatment Finder

Get started

Choose the applicable option below to begin

Cancers we treat with Proton Beam Therapy

Areas of the body we currently treat with Proton Beam Therapy:

How does immunotherapy work?

Types of immunotherapy we offer:

The benefits of immunotherapy

What is an infusion therapy?

An overview of how immunotherapy works

We're here for you

General information for patients having immunotherapy

Frequently asked questions

Contact Us

Get in Touch

More Treatments at Rutherford

Proton Beam Therapy

Radiotherapy

Chemotherapy

Our Trusted Healthcare Partners

Rutherford Cancer Centre Locations