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The new way to treat cancer

The scientific community has embarked on research to uncover how the body's immune system can work to fight cancer.

1 min read

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Source: AAP


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IMMUNOTHERAPY:

WHAT WE KNOW:

* Immunotherapy is an emerging cancer treatment that relies on parts of a person's immune system to fight the diseased cells

* The therapy works to slow the growth and spread of cancer cells

* The breakthrough discovery by the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute tested its antibody on breast, melanoma, prostate and lung cancers

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EXISTING CANCER THERAPIES:

* Chemotherapy

* Radiation

* Surgery

AUSTRALIAN CANCER STATISTICS:

* Breast cancer - One in eight Australian women will likely be diagnosed by their 85th birthday

* Lung cancer - The fifth most common form of cancer in Australia, with just a 14 per cent chance of survival of five years or more

* Melanoma - Accounted for about 10 per cent of Australian cancer diagnoses in 2015

* Prostate cancer - One in seven Australian men will likely be diagnosed by their 85th birthday


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