The classic (though not limited) way that cancer is often treated is through the use of chemotherapy. For many years, this has been the standard of care utilized against this insidious disease. It's deployment is somewhat analogous to carpet bombing an enemy in hopes of eradicating the attacking foe, while acknowledging that some innocent civilians (in this case - healthy tissue) would also be caught in the cross-fire. The goal of this oncology onslaught: the cancer cells are killed and the adversely affected surrounding healthy cells will grow back.
But in recent years, scientific advances now offer increasingly more controlled targeting of cancerous cells. This emerging class of armament is referred to as monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory produced antibodies (diseased cell killers) designed to recognize and bind to specific receptors found on the surface of cells (out-of-control growing cells). When compared to chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies are precise in the way they attack cancer cell escalation. Because they're more targeted, they are typically safer for patients. Fewer normal cells are being affected by the therapy, which results in fewer side effects. Some monoclonal antibodies are a type of immunotherapy - part of the growing class of Immuno-Oncology that has been rapidly expanding over the past decade (a short period of time in the world of cancer curing development). They work by triggering the immune system and helping it to attack cancer. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, seeks to induce changes in the body's immune system and interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread.
My cocktail of drugs contains a controlled mixture of both Multiple Myeloma (MM) munitions: Pomalyst (generic name - pomalidomide) is the chemotherapy element of my arsenal, and Darzalex (generic name - daratumumab) is the monoclonal antibody. Expressed in their respective proportions, my Pomalyst is a daily pill taken 21 days on and 7 days off - in an ongoing 28-day cycle. Not exactly a blitzkrieg, but a chemo bomb nonetheless. And the targeted strike force brought about by my Darzalex (a half-hour IV infusion once a month) works with my body's own natural immune system to focus specifically on undermining the proliferation of the offending MM cells.
This very brief treatment tutorial isn't enough to get us through Oncology school, but it is intended to peel back one of the layers of mystery behind what is really going on inside of my body, and the various types of warfare/weaponry being brought to bear on numerous fronts in my ongoing battle.
