One of the ways our bodies fight the germs that cause infection is by making antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that help our immune system to remember and fight the infection if we are exposed to it again. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins, made in the lab from a single antibody and can be used to treat cancer.
You would have this medicine through a drip over several hours. It's likely that you'll not be allowed to leave the ward while you're having it so that the nurses can keep an eye on any side effects.
how do they work?
Monoclonal antibodies work by recognising the protein on the surface of the cancer cell and then locking onto it (a bit like a key in a lock).
Some monoclonal antibodies trigger the body’s immune system to attack the cancer cells and make them destroy themselves. Other monoclonal antibodies have a drug or a radioactive substance attached to them. They can be used in this way to bring treatment straight to the cancer cell. This is called targeted therapy.
possible side effects
There are a few different monoclonal antibodies that can be used to treat cancer. Your doctors and nurses can explain in more detail the side effects and what can be done if they happen. But the common things to look out for are:
- flu-like symptoms - fever, chills, headaches, and joint and muscle aches
- feeling sick
- itching
- allergic reaction - skin rashes and itching, high temperature, shivering, redness of the face.
