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CANCER
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Issues
Ethical Issues
In today's day and age, there are many individuals who take and use drugs like cocaine. Those who use and/or become addicts have a chance to utilize a treatment that could prevent cocaine from crossing the blood brain barrier. A cocaine vaccine is an immunotherapeutic approach which induces the immune system to produce antibodies. The most promising thing from this treatment is that individuals are least likely to relapse. If any vaccines are used to treat cocaine addicts, trials must be carefully tested first. If this is not done, major ethical issues under legal coercion can arise. Today with immunotherapy treatments, there are various treatments that can help those with drug addictions.
Social Issues
Many immunotherapy treatments have cured diseases and several disorders, but have shown to cause psychological symptoms. Immunotherapies can boost one's immune system but sides affects can occur like fatigue, low mood, depression, social isolation, irritability, etc. These side affects can be treated with antidepressants. Although immunotherapy can cure diseases like cancer and disorders, people can lose the quality of their life which can lead to an uncompleted course of treatment. Overall, going through these affects can cause problems in one's life.
Legal Issues
Since immunotherapy is quite a new treatment to society, patients can only receive immunotherapies through clinical trials. Many patients have trouble finding the right clinical trial that suits their needs, but many also do not fully consider what treatment they are going to do. If patients do decide to go through with the trial, it is not guaranteed that the treatment will work. Patients also have to deal with medial costs. Cancer treatment costs, like immunotherapy, have grown over the years. Treatment costs can get very expensive and many patients may not have coverage to cover the expenses. This can be a serious financial issue for many individuals who cannot afford to go through immunotherapy treatments.
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