their level of medical fitness , the timing of cell collection , logistical concerns , and the risk�benefit ratio of treatment for the individual patient .
What are the side effects ? �ne common side effect of CA� T�cell Therapy is Cytokine �elease Syndrome ( C�S� , which is a multisystemic disease resulting from the effects of CA� T�cells at work and elimination of cancer cells .
Side effects of C�S include� � High fever and chills � �ifficulty breathing � �ausea , vomiting and�or diarrhoea � �eeling di��y and lightheaded � Headaches � �ast heartbeat � �atigue � �uscle and�or joint pain
C�S can develop many weeks after infusion , but most commonly develop within two weeks after infusion . The severity of C�S is not correlated with the response to CA� T�cell Therapy .
Another common side effect is immune effector cell�associated neuroto�icity syndrome ( �CA�S� , which affects the central nervous system of the patient .
C�S and �CA�S are well recognised side effects that are highly treatable and can be managed by a trained clinical care team .
What does the recovery process look like ? �ecovery typically takes ��� months from the CA� T�cell infusion . �atients will be admitted during the first ��� weeks to recover from any side effects of chemotherapy before they can be discharged .
�ollowing discharge , patients will have to go for regular outpatient appointments to monitor side effects and clinical responses to treatment .
Is it effective ? CA� T�cell Therapy has shown promising outcomes for the treatment of lymphoma and other blood cancers .
The overall success rate in achieving remission with CA� T�cell Therapy is ����� percent for lymphomas and ����� percent for leukaemias� .
CA� T�cells can bring hope to patients whose diseases have previously failed to respond to traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy . �ndeed , many patients with previously relapsed blood tumours have also shown promising results with no evidence of cancer after receiving treatment .
Is it better than chemotherapy ? �es , the survival advantage of CA� T�cell Therapy is better than conventional chemotherapy . CA� T�cell Therapy offers improved life e�pectancy compared to
Singapore is the first country in Southeast Asia to offer this treatment .
conventional chemotherapy , especially in relapsed� refractory blood cancers .
Is it available in Singapore ? CA� T�cell Therapy is available in Singapore , the first country in Southeast Asia to offer this treatment� . �ts use was approved by the country ’ s Health Sciences Authority ( HSA� under a new Cell , Tissue and �ene Therapy �roducts ( CT�T�� regulatory framework that came into effect on �arch ���� .
If I don ’ t live in Singapore , how long will I need to stay in the city for the procedure to be over ? �ou will need to be in Singapore throughout the duration of treatment , monitoring , and assessment of treatment response , which usually takes about three to four months , depending on your condition .
Can I opt for teleconsultations for my follow-ups ? Teleconsultations are not offered for patients who have undergone CA� T�cell Therapy .
Will it be approved for use on more cancers ? CA� T�cell Therapy is a revolutionary therapy with high success rates , and may be an option for non� haematological cancer treatments in the near future .
* Source : https :// ashpublications . org / bloodadvances / article / 4 / 21 / 5414 / 469825 / Real-world-evidence-of-tisagenlecleucel-for ^Source : https :// www . channelnewsasia . com / singapore / new-therapyfor-leukaemia-among-children-kymriah-blood-cancer-217446
Teleconsultations are not offered for patients who have undergone CAR T-cell Therapy .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com JULY 2022
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