Every year, so many children are diagnosed with cancer and the thought of physical, emotional pain and financial burden weigh heavily, not only on them but also on their families. The good news is, however, there are numerous ways cancer can be treated.
One of them is Car-T therapy.
What is Car-T therapy?
Car-T therapy is a relatively new treatment approach that helps fight cancer. It was approved by FDA in 2017 and specifically designed for patients with leukemia and lymphoma.
How Does Car-T Therapy Work?
Car-T therapy redirects the patient’s immune system to target cancer cells, an approach that is not so common with traditional chemotherapy.
To achieve this, doctors use a patient’s immune cells, modify them to recognize and attack cancer cells, and reintroduce them back into the patient’s body.
The Benefits of Car-T Therapy for Cancer Children
Children with cancer present unique challenges in the treatment of the disease. Each child’s treatment must be individually tailored, and doses of chemotherapy and radiation should be carefully calculated to avoid life-long health issues.
Car-T therapy presents several benefits for cancer children.
Reduced Processing Time
Traditional chemotherapy can take a while to process, depending on the cancer stage, but Car-T therapy presents a significant reduction in processing time.
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Reduced Side Effects
Chemotherapy often presents lots of side-effects, including hair loss, nausea, and vomiting. Car-T therapy on the other side, presents fewer side-effects of treatment because it addresses only cancer cells, allowing the normal cells to remain intact.
Higher Success Rates
Cancer has a high rate of relapse, but Car-T therapy has recorded higher success rates with a lower relapse rate. In some cases, Car-T therapy has led to complete remission of the disease.
Car-T Therapy Challenges for Cancer Children
Despite the numerous benefits, Car-T therapy also has its unique challenges for children. Some of these challenges include;.
High Cost
Car-T therapy is expensive and can be financially draining, especially for families with limited resources.
Location
Only a few hospitals offer Car-T therapy, making it geographically challenging for some patients.
Lengthy Process
The process of collecting and modifying immune cells before reintroducing them back is complex, and the patient may need to stay in the hospital for a prolonged period.
Conclusion
Car-T therapy presents a game-changer in cancer treatment, particularly in children. By reducing processing time and side effects, Car-T therapy provides a better and more effective alternative to traditional chemotherapy.
Although the therapy presents its unique challenges, progress in technology and medical science provides hope for a better future.
