IMMUNOTHERAPY Program for Breast Cancer Patients.

Breast Cancer: Hope and the Power of Immunotherapy

"Breast Cancer" – two short words that instill fear and change the lives of millions.

The incidence of breast cancer in Thailand is increasing every year, with over 22,158 new patients diagnosed annually. The number of patients undergoing breast cancer treatment—including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy—is continually rising.

Recognizing this critical need, Dr. Kris Chatamra, a specialist cancer surgeon, initiated the establishment of the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer (QSCBC), following the royal command of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother:

"I wish this Centre to be a refuge for women."

Furthermore, Her Majesty showed immeasurable compassion by graciously donating 2 million Baht of her personal funds to establish the center, taking it under her royal patronage, and bestowing the name "Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer" on June 11, B.E. 2548 (2005).

Every patient at the QSCBC is assigned a dedicated Consulting Nurse to provide advice and encouragement from the initial check-up, explain the treatment procedures, and offer continuous follow-up and care throughout every step of the treatment process.

The New Hope: Immunotherapy

Currently, while various methods like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or anti-hormone drugs can prolong a patient's life, for some, the nightmare is not over: cancer may recur, often accompanied by side effects that severely diminish their quality of life.

IMMUNOTHERAPY: A New Hope for Cancer Treatment

"Immunotherapy" offers an alternative cancer treatment option by utilizing the body's fundamental immune cells—the most abundant cells in the body—to stimulate the T-cells (the immune system) and direct them to eliminate cancer cells.

The treatment results from the first patient treated at the QSCBC, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, showed that the cancer cells in the patient's body were reduced to zero.

The patient experienced minimal side effects and a clear improvement in her quality of life, reaffirming the truth that "Breast cancer: early detection and early treatment provide an over 90% chance of recovery."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kris Chatamra, Head of the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, conducted research and treatment planning that led to the discovery of this new approach: breast cancer treatment using immunotherapy. This method utilizes the body's basic immune cells, particularly the T-cells, which act as soldiers in the fight against cancer cells.

Currently, the Centre uses immune cell therapy for patients with advanced or difficult-to-treat breast cancer, especially those whose cancer remains after other treatments or who sought treatment late.

During the second injection of immune cells, when the immune system begins to destroy the cancer cells, some patients may experience minor side effects, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, joint pain, or clear blisters. These symptoms are temporary and short-lived.

After 6 months of treatment, the patient's condition continuously improved: she was not fatigued, no fluid was found in her lungs, her bone pain disappeared, and she no longer needed painkillers. The patient was able to return to a normal life.

The key advantage of this treatment is that immune cells can reach all parts of the body, including the brain, which chemotherapy cannot achieve.

Following the successful treatment of the first patient, the QSCBC has introduced immunotherapy to treat other breast cancer patients and anticipates that it can reduce the treatment cost by one-third compared to the first patient's cost, which will also be less expensive than chemotherapy treatment.