HOW DOES KEYTRUDA WORK?
ABOUT KEYTRUDA
RELATED LINKS
How KEYTRUDA works with your immune system
The immune system is your body’s natural defence against disease. It sends a type of cell called T cells through your body to find and fight infections and diseases — including cancer.
Cancer cells grow by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapies like KEYTRUDA work with your immune system to help find and fight cancer cells.
What usually happens in your immune system
The immune system finds and fights cancer cells as they grow, before they form tumours.
What cancer cells sometimes do
The immune system destroys some cancer cells, but other cancer cells may hide from the immune system. These hiding cancer cells can then grow into tumours.
What KEYTRUDA does
KEYTRUDA helps the immune system find and fight cancer.
References
KEYTRUDA Australian Consumer Medicine Information, www.msdinfo.com.au/keytrudacmi.
Cancer Council Australia. 2021. Understanding Immunotherapy, A guide for people affected by cancer. Available at: www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/understanding-immunotherapy-fact-sheet. Accessed September 2023.
For further information about your condition or treatment consult your healthcare professional or refer to the Consumer Medicine Information for KEYTRUDA.
AU-KEY-00460. Issued September 2023.
MSD Medical Information or to report product complaints (including adverse events): 1800 818 553
This educational website is sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd. Information displayed on this website is only intended for Australian residents who are 18 years or older and are currently being treated with KEYTRUDA and as such, its contents have been designed to comply with Australian laws and regulations. The information on this website is educational only and is not intended to be used for any self-diagnosis purposes nor to replace the advice of your Doctor or healthcare professional. Please consult your Doctor or healthcare professional for further information on KEYTRUDA. Use and access of this website is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our Legal Agreement and Privacy Policy.
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