Medicine

This Cancer Treatment Works Like A Flu Shot

A vaccine to help treat cancer just passed its first phase of testing.

This Cancer Treatment Works Like A Flu Shot
Getty Images / Andreas Rentz
SMS

 A cancer-treating drug that works like a flu shot is getting closer to approval. 

The treatment works like a vaccine. It takes a cancer patient's tumor cells and uses them in a specialized, monthly injection. This allows an individual's immune system to fight the disease. (Video via KXAS)

"Change from an acute deadly disease to a chronic disease, probably we do the same for hypertension or diabetes. We don’t cure, but we control the disease," said Dr. Maurizio Ghisoli.

It doesn't cure cancer, but it makes it chronic. It's a far less taxing way to treat cancer than chemotherapy. 

"It was quick, painless, easy. Go to the hospital for a few hours and then come out and it's like no side effects at all," said Sam Day, a participant in the trial.

The treatment just made it through the first phase of FDA approval. But it could be four or five more years before it's granted full approval. 

This video includes an image from Getty Images.