Immunotherapy allows the body’s immune system to attack and destroy cancer but it can cause numerous adverse effects. Most of these are related to inflammation. You might experience diarrhea when your colon is inflamed or itching when your skin is inflamed. You can also have pain in your liver or pancreas if you have pancreatitis or hepatitis. If the symptoms become too severe, your medication may need to be changed.
Fact Checked
/ Updated May 8th, 2019SurvivorNet Fact Checking and Medical Review Standards:
The SurvivorNet News Team creates high quality medical information that complies with our industry leading standards for factual accuracy and sourcing from leading experts at academic medical institutions. Every news article is thoroughly fact-checked by our physician collaborators. We vet each piece of work for factual integrity, impartiality, and clearly label any professional conflicts.
All SurvivorNet articles adhere to the following standards:
- All studies and research papers cited are from reputable academic medical institutions or peer-reviewed journals.
- When we use data, statistics, or quotes these references link to the original source.
- All content related to new treatments, drugs, procedures, and so on must clearly describe availability, side effects, treatment target (such as triple negative breast cancer)
- All medical information on SurvivorNet is sourced from respected medical professionals with verified medical credentials and links are provided to these sources.
- We strive to give the reader relevant background information and include, clearly-sourced contextual health information in all articles. Readers are clearly alerted to any conflicts of interest from a medical source or the authors of a cited study.
Tell Your Doctor About Immunotherapy Side Effects
Housewives Star Teddi Mellencamp Finds Strength in Scars from Melanoma
Battling Skin Cancer Recurrence, ‘Housewives’ Star Teddi Mellencamp, 42, Prepares for ‘Skin Graft’ After Current Treatment Proves Ineffective
Breakthrough: Personalized mRNA Cancer Vaccine With Keytruda Shows Promise for Melanoma Patients: Hope on the Horizon
"God Bless Jimmy Carter"-- Former President 98, Remarkably Appears At Peanut Festival Months Into Hospice Care For Cancer
Immunotherapy Drug Keytruda Could Be Option For High-Risk Melanoma Patients When Used Before And After Surgery
Side Effects from Immunotherapy Can be Managed