What are the side effects of immunotherapy

Lung CancerOctober 30, 2025Navis AI

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For informational purposes only

This answer was generated by AI grounded in NCCN guidelines and published medical literature. It is not medical advice. Always consult your oncologist or care team before making treatment decisions.

Side Effects of Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer

Immunotherapy is an important treatment option for lung cancer, but like all cancer treatments, it can cause side effects. Let me explain what you might experience.

How Immunotherapy Works and Why Side Effects Occur

According to the NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, immunotherapy uses your immune system to kill cancer cells. Specifically, immune checkpoint inhibitors (medications like PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors) work by "restoring the ability of immune T cells to kill lung cancer cells."

The challenge is that these medications can sometimes cause your immune cells to attack healthy cells in your body, which leads to what doctors call "immune-related side effects."

Common Immune-Related Side Effects

The NCCN Guidelines note that immune-related side effects can occur during treatment or even after treatment ends. The most frequently reported side effects include:

Fatigue (lack of energy)
Skin problems in various areas of your body
Lung inflammation (called pneumonitis), which can cause shortness of breath or cough
Digestive tract issues (nausea, diarrhea, or inflammation)
Liver problems
Heart inflammation (myocarditis)

Important Safety Considerations

According to the NCCN Guidelines, immunotherapy may not be safe for you if you:

Have an autoimmune disease (where your immune system already attacks your own cells)
Are taking medications that suppress your immune system
Have had an organ transplant
Have poor overall health status

What You Should Do

The NCCN Guidelines emphasize: "Tell your care team about any new or worsening symptoms you have." This is critical because some immune-related side effects need prompt medical attention.

Your oncology team can help manage these side effects and may adjust your treatment if needed. Always report symptoms like sudden shortness of breath, severe abdominal pain, or chest pain immediately.

Would you like to know more about managing specific side effects or how immunotherapy compares to other lung cancer treatments?

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