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For patients with advanced lung cancer, immunotherapy is
emerging as an exciting new treatment beyond the traditional radiation and
chemotherapy route. Just as your immune system protects your body by destroying
harmful bacteria and viruses, immunotherapy triggers your immune system to
fight cancer cells.
Though immunotherapy is generally well tolerated, patients
can still experience side effects from treatment. If you’re currently
undergoing immunotherapy, here are some things you can do to help minimize
these reactions.
Educate Yourself
It’s important to have a discussion with your medical team
about what type of side effects you may experience, so you’re able to recognize
them if they occur. Though these can
differ from person to person and vary based on the type of medication used, common
side effects include:
-
Fatigue
-
Skin rash
-
Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, nausea)
-
Decreased appetite
-
Joint pain
-
Decreased blood pressure
A small percentage of
patients experience more serious side effects. Some examples are:
-
Pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs)
-
Colitis (inflammation of the large intestine)
-
Thyroid problems
-
Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
-
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Keep
in mind it may take 6 to 12 weeks for side effects to appear, as opposed to
treatments like chemotherapy
where it’s often experienced much sooner. Side effects may continue to occur even after
treatment has stopped.
Report Immediately
The good news is when side effects are addressed early, they
can often be resolved easily, so it’s imperative to let your doctor know if anything
is troubling you. Frequently, your doctor will prescribe steroids or antihistamines
to settle the inflammation and relieve your symptoms.
Avoid the temptation to ignore relatively minor side effects
since they can escalate into much more serious complications rather quickly.
While it may seem easy to dismiss a minor cough or slight bout of diarrhea, you
should notify your doctor so he or she can determine if your symptoms are
related to your treatment.
Sometimes patients are hesitant to report side effects
because they’re scared their immunotherapy treatment will have to stop. Yet,
remember when side effects are diagnosed early, treatment can often continue or
only be delayed slightly. It’s when side effects become severe that your doctor
will need to make a decision regarding whether it’s in your best interest to
continue treatment.
Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
If your doctor prescribes a medication such as a steroid or
an antibiotic to treat any side effect, make sure you take the full course as
prescribed, even if you begin to feel better. Steroids, in particular, often
require a slow taper over time. Discontinuing a medication too soon may result
in a rebound effect, causing your symptoms to return.
Make Small Lifestyle Changes
There are also non-medical ways of coping with some of the
most common side effects from immunotherapy.
For fatigue:
-
Schedule time to rest throughout the day and
make sure to get a full night’s sleep. -
Eat a nutrient-rich diet and stay well hydrated.
-
Incorporate regular, light exercise if approved
by your doctor.
For skin rash or irritation:
-
Avoid long, hot showers.
-
Use mild soaps, lotions, and detergents.
For nausea:
-
Eat 6 to 8 small meals throughout the day.
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Try bland foods such as dry crackers or toast.
-
Avoid overly spicy or greasy foods.
Talk to your doctor about other lifestyle changes you can
make to help ease any troubling side effects.
As with
any type of medical treatment, success stems from open communication between
doctor and patient. Keep your doctor
informed about how you are feeling as you continue your immunotherapy treatment
to ensure the best decisions are made regarding your future care.
