Understanding Treatment Side-Effects

Cancer treatments can be accompanied by various side effects. While researchers continue to work diligently to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments, they are also working to reduce the accompanied side effects. Common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy include fatigue, mouth, gum and throat sores, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, skin and nail changes, hair loss, changes in weight, numbness, tingling and pain in the hands and feet, changes in concentration and focus, and infection.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Immunotherapy can have different side effects than chemotherapy, and can affect the whole body.⁴ Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a type of immunotherapy which are designed to work with your immune system to treat many types of cancer.⁴ ICIs can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues, affecting the way they work.⁴ Side effects that are severe occur in <5% of those who receive immunotherapy, although mild side effects can be experienced in as many as 30%-50%. These side effects (called immune-related adverse events – or irAEs) can occur at any point, including shortly after starting treatment, months later and after treatment has ended.^4,5

Your cancer care team can provide information on what to look for and how to contact them about any symptoms that may be a side effect to cancer treatment.^2,3,5 It is important to immediately report any symptoms to an oncologist and/or other members of the cancer care team so they can be managed appropriately.²

Bispecific Antibodies

Bispecific antibodies are a type of cancer treatment with side effects that can vary based on how the drug is designed and what it targets. Some treatments may need to be started slowly in the hospital, as they can cause serious immune reactions like cytokine release syndrome or nervous system problems during treatment initiation.⁶ These treatments can also affect healthy cells that share similar targets, leading to issues such as low levels of certain blood cells (like B-cells), infections, heart problems, blood clots, and rare immune system conditions like hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.⁶

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)

Antibody-drug conjugates are medicines that combine a targeted antibody with a cancer-killing drug. They are designed to attack cancer cells more precisely than traditional chemotherapy.⁷ However, certain features—such as the type of drug used, how it’s connected to the antibody, and how stable that connection is—can affect how the treatment works and what side effects may occur.⁶ These side effects can include low white or platelet counts, nerve pain or damage, lung problems, liver damage, eye irritation or damage, and other side effects.^7,8

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Targeting the Immune System