What Are the Side-effects of Immunotherapy Cancer Treatment?

Following a cancer diagnosis, the oncology department will provide you with information relating to the side effects that you may experience after Immunotherapy. The various cancer treatment medicines that are administered to patients, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormonal therapies can cause nasty reactions and side effects.

The oncology department and personnel will be on hand to help reassure you and provide the appropriate care should you experience debilitating side effects.

What Organs Can Be Negatively Affected By Cancer Treatment?

Unfortunately, the drugs used to treat cancer can sometimes end up affecting just about any organ in the body, with negative consequences. These side effects range from mild to severe and your doctor will monitor you carefully in order to detect early signs of adverse reactions to the medicines prescribed.

The most common organs affected are:

• Skin
• Colon
• Lungs
• Liver
• Endocrine organs (e.g. the pituitary gland or thyroid gland)

Fortunately, side effects from the majority of these drugs are mild to moderate. With early detection, any negative effects can be reversed by the appropriate actions of your medical team. Side effects of the treatment may appear within a few days or weeks of starting treatment, but they are also known to appear as long as one year after treatment has been discontinued.

Side Effect Symptoms to Look Out For

You should be prepared to experience at least some of the following symptoms brought on by the treatment:

• Fatigue
• Skin rashes and itching
• Diarrhea and/or severe abdominal pain
• Weight Loss
• Nausea or vomiting
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Shortness of breath
• Coughs
• Headaches
• Confused thoughts
• Numbness
• Fevers
• A tendency to bruise easily
• Loss of vision

Your cancer treatment team of doctors will monitor you carefully to help you avoid these unpleasant side effects. Luckily, most side effects are rare and you are unlikely to experience them. The oncologist orange county research company, City of Hope, continues to invest billions of dollars in studies aimed at curbing the spread of cancer.