Cancer cells that survive after treatment may use the body’s own immune system to wake themselves up and fuel their growth, a new study shows.

The immunotherapy nivolumab has today been made available on the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) for patients with head and neck cancer if the disease progresses within six months of receiving platinum chemotherapy.

The immunotherapy nivolumab is kinder than chemotherapy for people with advanced head and neck cancer – easing many of the negative effects of the disease on patients’ quality of life.