What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a cancer management treatment which aims to strengthen and improve the body’s natural immune response to cancer cells. The human body has a natural line of defense against foreign cells however sometimes cancer cells can evade the natural immune system. Different immunotherapies work in different ways to enhance the detection and action of the immune system against cancer cells.
Common Side Effects
- Fatigue
- Rash
- Joint Pain
- Abdominal discomfort
- Weight change
- Gastrointestinal issues
Common Examples of Immunotherapies
- Nivolumab (Opdivo)
- Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
- Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
Exercise Recommendations
There is no current evidence regarding specific exercise recommendations for immunotherapy. However, exercise therapists are encouraged to consider presenting symptoms and side effects of patient’s in their exercise prescription.
For further detail see the Cancer Council website page regarding ‘Immunotherapy‘.