Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. The immune system helps your body fight infections and other diseases. It is made up of white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system. Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy.

What diseases can be treated with immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy: About this Treatment Immunotherapy is the newest class of medications used to fight cancer and is being used with increasing frequency across a wide array of cancers including lymphoma, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, bladder and kidney cancer, and some head and neck cancers.

Who is eligible for immunotherapy?

Who is a good candidate for immunotherapy? The best candidates are patients with non–small cell lung cancer, which is diagnosed about 80 to 85% of the time. This type of lung cancer usually occurs in former or current smokers, although it can be found in nonsmokers. It is also more common in women and younger patients.