Immunotherapy is a treatment modality aimed at strengthening the immune system of the body to fight cancer cells.

Despite its effectiveness, immunotherapy can have side effects. These effects are mainly related to the damage to healthy cells of the body as a result of the immune system activation. This can lead to autoimmune diseases such as:

Kidney demage (nephritis) - nephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys caused by an immune system reaction.

Pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs) – damage and inflammation of the lungs, causing breathing difficulty.

Hepatitis (liver inflammation) - liver damage that can lead to liver dysfunction.       

Colitis - (inflammation of the mucous lining of the large intestine) – inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Some immunotherapy medications can cause skin inflammation (dermatitis), which may be manifested by red spots, itching, or dry skin. 

Immunotherapy can cause joint pain (arthralgia) and sometimes myopathy (muscle pain), which significantly changes the quality of life.

Immunotherapy is considered one of the most revolutionary approaches in oncology, as it aims not only to directly destroy cancer cells, but also to activate the body's immune process so that it can fight cancer more effectively. Often, side effects are mild and resolve after treatment is completed.