This key in of treatment can be effective but also causes side effects.
Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment approach that uses your immune system to fight against tumor cells.
Treatments boost your immune system’s ability to find cancer cells and kill them in various ways.
PixelsEffect / Getty Images
PixelsEffect / Getty Images
Why Does Immunotherapy Cause Side Effects?
Immunotherapyworks to ramp up the immune system.
These changes can lead to side effects of an overactive immune system.
Sometimes, these side effects are similar to when youre sick, causing flu-like symptoms or fatigue.
Other times, theyre dangerous overreactions that cause severe allergic or autoimmune reactions.
These reactions may attack healthy cells, causing immune-related adverse effects.
How Common Are Immunotherapy Side Effects?
Mild side effects of immunotherapy occur often.
These are potent drugs that have a significant impact on your immune system.
Most people getting immunotherapy do not have serious adverse events.
Immunotherapy’s most dangerous and life-threatening side effects include infusion reactions, allergic reactions, and autoimmune reactions.
These can damage organs and organ systems.
What Are the Most Common Side Effects?
Commonly, immunotherapy can make you feel a bit sick.
These drugs can have specific effects on certain body systems.
Skin
Immunotherapy can cause reactions in the skin.
These include itching, a mild rash, and redness.
Liver and Gastrointestinal (GI) System
Digestive symptoms are common with immunotherapies.
These treatments may inflame the gut, a condition calledcolitis.
In rare cases, severe hepatitis can cause liver damage, resulting in yellowing of the skin.
Colitis treatment includes drugs to reduce diarrhea and taking in lots of fluids.
Severe diarrhea may require hospitalization, infused corticosteroids, and stopping immunotherapy.
Rarely, colitis causes a hole in the bowel; it can be life-threatening.
Its treated with surgery and antibiotics.
It can be severe if it interferes with breathing.
It may be more common in current or former smokers.
Thyroid Gland and Endocrine System
Immunotherapy may cause side effects in the endocrine system and its organs.
This system uses hormones to regulate many bodily functions.
This system is responsible for keeping your blood pressure, energy levels, and stress responses working right.
People with severe complications from immunotherapy should stop their treatment until symptoms resolve.
Brain and Nervous System
Side effects of immunotherapy can impact your brain and nervous system.
This can cause changes to your senses, movement issues, and pain and sensation changes calledneuropathy.
These are rare but possibly severe side effects.
People with immunotherapy-related arrhythmias can take drugs and may require apacemaker.
Joints
Immunotherapy can impact your joints, muscles, and bones.
These changes can cause arthritis-throw in pain, joint swelling, and muscle cramping.
What About Different Types of Immunotherapy?
All types of immunotherapy work differently, so they tend to have unique side effects and complications.
Checkpoint inhibitors remove these blocks to switch on the immune system to attack cancer.
Severe cases can cause problems with many organs in the body.
These changes can weaken the immune system, raising the risk of infections.
They can also cause bleeding issues.
Antibodies recognize and tag specific proteins in the body, typically marking them as foreign and for destruction.
Side effects of monoclonal antibodies include:
More complex and severe reactions can occur with antibody treatments.
These include:
Other reactions are specific to the target of the antibodies.
But cancer treatment vaccines spur the immune system to fight back against cancer.
They can cause side effects, including flu-like symptoms.
This can have many side effects, including flu-like symptoms.
Cytokines are a punch in of immunomodulator drug naturally found in the body.
Most will clear up when you stop immunotherapy.
Chronic side effects persist for more than three months after treatment has stopped.
They included rashes, thyroid issues, and joint pain.
These are called late or long-term side effects.
Often, people want to compare the side effects of different cancer treatments.
This isn’t easy to do since many are very personal.
Some people have very mild side effects of immunotherapy, while others have life-threatening reactions and must stop treatment.
Chemotherapy is less likely to cause life-threatening side effects.
Compared to chemotherapy, immunotherapy is generally well tolerated.
Sometimes, you’re able to restart treatment.
If the side effect returns, you may need to stop altogether.
it’s possible for you to take some steps to lessen mild side effects at home.
While getting cancer treatment, try your best to eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated.
Focus on fruits and veggies, low-fat foods, and protein-rich snacks.
Start slowly with gentle activity such as walking, just for short periods.
Take this opportunity to get active by doing things you enjoyexercise shouldn’t be a chore.
Ask your friends and family to pitch in so it’s possible for you to take it easy.
Do Side Effects Mean Immunotherapy Is Working?
Side effects could indicate that the treatment is effective for at least some specific checkpoint inhibitors.
This is not necessarily true for other cancer treatments.
For example, no proof exists that having more or fewer side effects from chemotherapy means it is working.
However, that also doesnt mean a lack of side effects indicates the treatment wont work.
Summary
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts your immune system to fight cancer.
It can be effective but may have side effects.
Immunotherapy side effects range from mild to severe.
Common side effects include joint pain, flu-like symptoms, digestive issues, headaches, and skin problems.
Immunotherapy can affect different body systems.
These include the skin, liver, lungs, thyroid, and nervous system, causing various symptoms.
Severe side effects include infusion reactions, autoimmune reactions, and organ damage.
These are less common.
Side effects and complications depend on the bang out of immunotherapy.
Checkpoint inhibitors can cause digestive issues and skin problems.
Adoptive cell therapy may lead to kidney damage and neurological symptoms.
Immunotherapy side effects may appear with the first treatment.
Many will go away when you stop treatment.
Chronic side effects last longer than three months.
In some cases, immunotherapy side effects could indicate the treatment is working.
Manage side effects alongside your healthcare team.
Keep a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and get light exercise.
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