[[{"@type":["BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/managing-and-monitoring-immunotherapy-side-effects\/#BlogPosting","@context":{"@vocab":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","kg":"http:\/\/g.co\/kg"},"url":["https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/managing-and-monitoring-immunotherapy-side-effects\/","https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/managing-and-monitoring-immunotherapy-side-effects\/"],"publisher":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/"}],"author":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/managing-and-monitoring-immunotherapy-side-effects\/#BlogPosting_author_Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/managing-and-monitoring-immunotherapy-side-effects\/#BlogPosting_image_ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Doctor-Preparing-Immunotherapy-Treatments.jpg"}],"headline":"Managing and Monitoring Immunotherapy Side Effects","dateModified":"2021-11-11T12:13:57+00:00","datePublished":"2019-12-15T09:04:24+00:00","description":"Virus-like symptoms, skin conditions, stress, and more are among the immunotherapy side effects patients may experience during treatment. To learn more, visit the Regional Cancer Care Associates blog today.","articleBody":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 15, 2019\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\nImmunotherapy \u2013 the use of medications that improve the immune system\u2019s response to cancer cells \u2013 continues to evolve as a go-to treatment option for cancer. Immunotherapy can be administered in several formulations, including cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, T cell therapy, and more. However, immunotherapy sometimes causes the body to attack healthy cells, so patients may experience side effects during treatment.\nHere\u2019s a closer look at the most common immunotherapy side effects, and how the Regional Cancer Care Associates team recommends managing them.\nVirus-like symptoms akin to the flu are among the most common immunotherapy side effects. They most often occur in patients undergoing non-specific immunotherapy treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, T cell therapy, and oncolytic virus therapy. These flu-like symptoms, which can also result from other types of immunotherapy, include:\nCoughFatigueDiarrheaHeadachesSinus congestionFever or chillsBody aches or weaknessNausea or vomitingDizzinessHigher or lower blood pressure than normal\nIf you or a loved one experiences these symptoms during treatment, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and electrolyte-based fluids as needed. In most cases, these side effects will subside naturally, but if you are experiencing frequent vomiting from consuming liquids, visit Regional Cancer Care Associates right away.\nSkin Conditions\nDepending on the type of medication your immunotherapy requires, you may also experience side effects that impact your skin. Dryness, blistering, or redness are most common, but you may also notice changes in skin color, cracked fingertips, inflammation near the fingernails and toenails, or increased sensitivity to sunlight. In some cases, hair loss also may occur.\nIf you experience skin-related immunotherapy side effects, try to resist the temptation to scratch, as doing so can cause further irritation or infection. The following tips also can help minimize skin-related side effects:\nUse sunscreen daily. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higherAvoid strongly scented soaps, as fragrances used in these products may dry the skinMake sure your laundry detergent is gentle and not perfumedDon\u2019t use skin products that contain alcohol or retinoids\nYou can also consult with your oncologist or dermatologist about medications that may treat your symptoms and provide relief.\nOther Physical and Mental Health Symptoms\nUnfortunately, the side effects from immunotherapy are many, and can also include swelling, trouble breathing, weight gain, hormonal changes, and more.\nAs you manage the physical side effects of immunotherapy treatments, you may also notice an impact on your emotional and mental health. Whether you\u2019re experiencing stress, anxiety, mood swings, or depression, looking for ways to maintain a positive attitude can help. Many Regional Cancer Care Associates patients find meditation, massage, acupuncture, breathing exercises, and other relaxation techniques to be especially helpful. But if you\u2019re struggling to cope, seek the support of your friends, family, or a professional therapist.\nMonitoring Your Side Effects\nIt\u2019s important to note that immunotherapy side effects may continue to develop for weeks, months, or even years after your treatments conclude. Therefore, you need to monitor your symptoms and keep your doctors informed, as they can recommend specific strategies to help you cope. At Regional Cancer Care Associates, we guide patients through these hurdles with our palliative care services, which address the negative side effects that accompany cancer and its treatments. For more information, contact us today.\nwe are here for you\nFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call (844) 301-4158. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.\nRELATED ARTICLES\nRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\n\u00a9 2022 Regional Cancer Care Associates. All rights reserved.","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/managing-and-monitoring-immunotherapy-side-effects\/"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"LocalBusiness","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Corporate Office 25 Main Street, Suite 601","postalCode":"07601","addressRegion":"NJ","addressLocality":"Hackensack","addressCountry":"USA","name":"Postal Address","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/#PostalAddress"},"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"1024","height":"468","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg"},"contactPoint":[{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactOption":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#ContactPointOption","availableLanguage":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/English_language","areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey"],"contactType":"customer support","telephone":"+1 (844) 346-7222","email":"info@regionalcancercare.org","description":"Corporate Office Regional Cancer Care Associates 25 Main Street, Suite 601 Hackensack, NJ 07601 info@regionalcancercare.org Phone: (844) 346-7222","name":"Contact Corporate Office","image":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/RCCA_logo-300x137.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#CorporateOffice"},{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactOption":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#ContactPointOption","availableLanguage":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/English_language","areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey"],"contactType":"customer support","telephone":"+1 (201) 510-0922","email":"msalvemini@regionalcancercare.org","description":"Media Inquiries: Mary Lou Salvemini Regional Cancer Care Associates Phone: (201) 510-0922 Email: msalvemini@regionalcancercare.org","name":"Contact Media Inquiries","image":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/RCCA_logo-300x137.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#MediaInquiries"}],"areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey"],"additionalType":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Treatment_of_cancer","alternateName":"RCCA","description":"Leaders in Advanced Compassionate Cancer Care. Fight cancer with leading-edge treatments, experienced skill and local caring\/convenience from one of the nation's largest networks of cancer specialists.","email":"info@regionalcancercare.org","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/rgnlcancercare","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/regionalcancercareassoc","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/10059183","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCFlVzU4UvZcyXBCe9ZSvAUQ"],"telephone":"+1 (844) 346-7222","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Managing and Monitoring Immunotherapy Side Effects","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/managing-and-monitoring-immunotherapy-side-effects\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]