Immunotherapy (Including CAR-T)
Steps Involved in IVF:
Procedure Description
What is Immunotherapy and CAR-T?
Immunotherapy is a groundbreaking form of cancer treatment that works by leveraging the body's own immune system to combat cancerous cells. The procedure aims to enhance or restore the patient's immune system to identify and target cancer cells more effectively. Immunotherapies can be of various types, including checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and the more specialized Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. CAR-T therapy involves modifying a patient's T-cells in a laboratory to attack cancer cells and then reintroducing them into the body. This form of immunotherapy has shown remarkable results in treating certain types of cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Why Opt for Immunotherapy?
Patients opt for immunotherapy for several reasons. Firstly, it provides an alternative to more conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, which can be highly taxing on the body. Second, immunotherapy has the potential for a more targeted attack on cancer cells, reducing the collateral damage to healthy cells. Lastly, advancements in the field are continually occurring, making this a cutting-edge treatment that can offer hope when other treatments have failed.
CAR-T: A Closer Look
CAR-T therapy is particularly unique because it customizes treatment for each patient. Physicians extract T-cells from the patient's blood and genetically engineer these cells to produce chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These receptors enable the T-cells to latch onto specific proteins found on cancer cells, enhancing the immune system's ability to target and kill them. Once the modified T-cells are multiplied in a lab, they are reinfused into the patient, serving as a "living drug" to fight off the cancer.
Procedure Duration
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
The duration of immunotherapy varies widely depending on the type of treatment and the specifics of the case. Standard immunotherapies may require weekly or bi-weekly visits for injections or infusions and could go on for several months. CAR-T therapy involves a more complicated procedure where T-cells are first extracted from the patient, modified in the lab—which can take several weeks—and then reinfused. All in all, the entire CAR-T process can take from 3 to 8 weeks from T-cell extraction to reinfusion.
Post-Treatment Recovery
Recovery times for immunotherapy can also differ significantly. Some people experience minimal side effects and can continue with their regular activities almost immediately. However, because CAR-T therapy is a more intense form of treatment, it often necessitates a more extended recovery period, which can include a hospital stay for monitoring. Patients undergoing CAR-T therapy should be prepared for a multi-week recovery period to manage potential side effects, which can sometimes be severe.
Multiple Treatments and Ongoing Care
Immunotherapy, especially CAR-T, often requires ongoing care and monitoring. Regular check-ups, blood tests, and scans are common post-treatment protocols. Some patients may need more than one course of treatment to achieve desired results, necessitating longer stays or multiple trips if opting for treatment abroad.
Benefits
- Cost-Efficiency: Treatment abroad can be significantly cheaper without compromising quality.
- Expertise: Some countries are renowned for their specialized skills in immunotherapy and CAR-T.
- Technology: Medical tourism destinations often have cutting-edge technology and facilities.
Potential Destinations
- United States: Particularly known for advanced research and availability of latest treatments.
- Germany: Renowned for high-quality healthcare and expertise in cancer treatments.
- South Korea: Emerging as a leader in medical technology and specialized treatments.
- Israel: Known for innovation in medical research, including CAR-T therapy.
Risks & Considerations
- Travel Fatigue: The journey can be exhausting and may not be suitable for all patients.
- Regulatory Differences: Not all treatments are approved or regulated similarly across countries.
- Language Barriers: Communication can be a challenge, affecting the quality of care.
How to Choose the Right Doctor and Hospital
- Accreditations: Ensure the hospital has international healthcare accreditations.
- Expertise: Research the doctor's qualifications, experience, and specialization in immunotherapy.
- Patient Reviews: Look for testimonials and reviews from former patients.
To receive a free quote for this procedure please click on the link: https://www.medicaltourism.com/get-a-quote
Patients are advised to seek hospitals that are accredited by Global Healthcare and only work with medical tourism facilitators who are certified by Global Healthcare Accreditation or who have undergone certification from the Certified Medical Travel Professionals (CMTP). This ensures that the highest standards in the industry are met. GHA accredits the top hospitals in the world. These are the best hospitals in the world for quality and providing the best patient experience. Click the link to check out hospitals accredited by the Global Healthcare Accreditation: https://www.globalhealthcareaccreditation.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually happens during hyperstimulation of the ovaries?
The patient will take injectable FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) for eight to eleven days, depending on how long the follicles take to mature. This hormone is produced naturally in a woman’s body causing one egg to develop per cycle. Taking the injectable FSH causes several follicles to develop at once, at approximately the same rate. The development is monitored with vaginal ultrasounds and following the patient’s levels of estradiol and progesterone. FSH brand names include Repronex, Follistim, Menopur, Gonal-F and Bravelle. The patient injects herself daily.
What happens during egg retrieval?
When the follicles have developed enough to be harvested, the patient attends an appointment where she is anesthetized and prepared for the procedure. Next, the doctor uses an ultrasound probe to guide a needle through the vaginal wall and into the follicle of the ovary. The thin needle draws the follicle fluid, which is then examined by an embryologist to find the eggs. The whole process takes about 20 minutes.
What happens to the eggs?
In the next step, the harvested eggs are then fertilized. If the sperm from the potential father, or in some cases, anonymous donor, has normal functionality, the eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish with a nutrient fluid, then incubated overnight to fertilize normally. If the sperm functionality is suboptimal, an embryologist uses Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection to inject a single sperm into a single egg with an extremely precise glass needle. Once fertilization is complete, the embryos are assessed and prepared to be transferred to the patient’s uterus.
How are the embryos transferred back to the uterus?
The doctor and the patient will discuss the number of embryos to be transferred. The number of successfully fertilized eggs usually determines the number of eggs to be placed in the uterus. Embryos are transferred to the uterus with transabdominal ultrasound guidance. This process does not require anesthesia, but it can cause minor cervical or uterine discomfort. Following transfer, the patient is advised to take at least one days bed rest and two or three additional days of rest, then 10 to 12 days later, two pregnancy tests are scheduled to confirm success. Once two positive tests are completed, an obstetrical ultrasound is ordered to show the sac, fetal pole, yolk sac and fetal heart rate.
Embryoscope©
Built into this technology there is a microscope with a powerful camera that allows the uninterrupted monitoring of the embryo during its first hours of life. In this way, we can keep a close eye on the embryo, from the moment when the oocyte is inseminated and begins to divide into smaller and smaller cells, until it can be transferred to the uterus.
Orthopedics Stem Cell
Knee
Research on mesenchymal stem cells regenerative properties in knee osteoarthritis. In these studies, researchers suggest that Stem Cell Therapy has the potential to regenerate lost cartilage, stop and reverse cartilage degeneration, provide pain relief, and improve patient mobility.
Shoulder
Stem Cell Therapy as an Alternative to Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Replacement Surgery. Stem cell therapy may offer an excellent alternative for patients looking to avoid shoulder joint replacement surgery, as well as many other surgical treatments for shoulder pain.
Ankle
If you suffer from chronic or acute ankle pain or instability due to arthritis, cartilage loss, ligament strain or tear, or tendon damage, then you may benefit from non-surgical stem cell treatments or stem cell-enhanced surgery.
Back Pain
Patients now have a minimally invasive option. Stem cell therapy for back pain and disc herniations can potentially repair the damaged disc or facet joint, restore function, rehydrate the disc, and ultimately alleviate chronic pain.
Anti-Aging Stem Cell
Hair Loss
Stem cell therapy and PRP therapy have been shown to be most effective for: Those in the early stages of hair loss, patients who are not viable candidates for surgery and women who prefer to avoid hair surgery.
Facial Anti-Aging
Aesthetic Anti-Aging. The Aesthetic Stem Cell Localized Treatment is a non-surgical minimally invasive procedure to enhance the appearance of aging skin and hair restoration. This all-natural technique combines dermal injections of bone marrow or adipose tissue derived stem cells and growth factors.
Fertility Stem Cell
Endometrial PRP
The stem cells used for treatment of a thin endometrium include mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, successful repair of the endometrium in pregnancy with stem cells has been reported previously.
Low Ovarian Reserve (PRP)
The treatment uses PRP (Platelet-Rich-Plasma), which with stem cell therapy is the novel therapeutic approach for restoring the quality of the ovarian reserve.Your PRP will contain a physiologic balance of platelets, growth factors and white blood cells tailored specifically for you.
Punta Mita Hospital
Mexico
Punta Mita Hospital - Genesis Cell
Mexico
