Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the body's own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. The most widely used forms, such as checkpoint inhibitors, release natural brakes on immune cells so they can target the cancer. It is used for selected cancers and patients, sometimes alone and sometimes combined with other treatments, and is guided by testing where appropriate.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
The immune system can recognize and destroy abnormal cells, but cancers often find ways to hide from it or switch off the immune response. Immunotherapy works by restoring or strengthening the immune system's ability to find and attack cancer cells. The most established type, immune checkpoint inhibitors, blocks the signals that cancers use to put the brakes on immune cells, freeing those cells to act.
Immunotherapy is used for a growing number of cancers, including some skin, lung, kidney and other cancers, though it is not suitable for every cancer or every patient. Testing of the tumor — for markers that predict response — often helps decide whether immunotherapy is appropriate and is reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumor board. It may be given alone or combined with chemotherapy, targeted therapy or other treatments, usually as outpatient infusions repeated over months.
Because immunotherapy activates the immune system, it can occasionally cause immune-related side effects in healthy organs, which need prompt recognition and management. The team monitors for these closely. International patients are supported by a coordinator with a clear plan and a transparent, itemized cost estimate before travel, and specialists can review pathology, test results and reports remotely.
Who is a candidate?
- People with a cancer type for which immunotherapy is an established or appropriate option
- Patients whose tumor testing suggests they are likely to respond to immunotherapy
- Those who may benefit from immunotherapy alone or combined with other treatments
- People with cancer that has spread, where immunotherapy may help control disease
- Patients whose tumor board recommends immunotherapy as part of the plan
- People seeking a second opinion on whether immunotherapy is suitable for them
What happens
- 1
Diagnosis and testing
Pathology, imaging and, where relevant, tumor testing for predictive markers confirm the cancer and help decide whether immunotherapy is appropriate for your specific case.
- 2
Tumor-board planning
A multidisciplinary tumor board agrees whether immunotherapy is suitable and whether to use it alone or combined with chemotherapy, targeted therapy or other treatments.
- 3
Treatment cycles
Immunotherapy is usually given by infusion as an outpatient, in cycles repeated over months. The team explains the schedule and how long treatment is expected to continue.
- 4
Monitoring for immune-related effects
Because immunotherapy activates the immune system, the team monitors closely for immune-related side effects in healthy organs and manages them promptly if they occur.
- 5
Follow-up and surveillance
Scans and reviews assess the response over time. International patients receive a clear plan for continuing treatment or monitoring after returning home, coordinated with local doctors.
Benefits
- Harnesses the body's own immune system to recognize and attack cancer
- Can be effective for selected cancers, sometimes with durable responses
- Usually given as outpatient infusions, fitting around daily life
- Can be combined with chemotherapy, targeted therapy or other treatments
- Tumor testing helps select patients more likely to benefit
Risks & considerations
- Immune-related side effects, where the activated immune system inflames healthy organs — for example the bowel (causing diarrhea or colitis), the lungs (cough or breathlessness), the liver, the skin, or hormone glands such as the thyroid; these are uncommon and usually manageable but can occasionally be serious, so they need prompt recognition and treatment
- Because these effects can appear during treatment or even weeks after a dose, tell your care team promptly — and seek urgent care if symptoms are severe — about things such as diarrhea that won't settle, a new or worsening cough or breathlessness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe tiredness, or unusual headaches; reporting them early usually allows simple, effective treatment
- Tiredness and other general effects during treatment
- Not every cancer or patient responds, and not all are suitable for immunotherapy
- The need for close monitoring throughout treatment
- Side effects are individual and can differ from those of chemotherapy
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Comprehensive Oncology Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Immunotherapy — frequently asked questions
Chemotherapy attacks cancer cells directly, while immunotherapy works by helping your own immune system recognize and attack the cancer. Their side effects differ too — immunotherapy can cause immune-related effects in healthy organs, which the team monitors for closely.
No. Immunotherapy is established for a growing but specific set of cancers and patients. Tumor testing for predictive markers often helps decide whether it is appropriate, and a tumor board reviews this for your case.
It is usually given by infusion in cycles over months, with the duration depending on the cancer and how it responds. Your team explains the expected schedule and how response is monitored.
Yes. Share your pathology, test results and reports and our specialists provide an independent opinion on whether immunotherapy is suitable, before you decide on treatment or travel.
Because treatment is given in cycles over months, your coordinator explains which parts are best done on site and how treatment continues at home. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing your case and any required testing, rather than a fixed online price, because each plan is individual.
Related treatments
Considering immunotherapy?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.