Immunotherapy for prostate cancer: side effects

Because treatment changes immune activity, effects may involve the skin, bowel, lungs, liver, kidneys, nerves or hormone glands. Tiredness, itching, rash, diarrhoea, cough, breathlessness, nausea, headache or changes in thirst and urination deserve a message to the treatment team. These symptoms can have other causes, including the cancer or another medicine, so do not diagnose the cause yourself. Prostate cancer care may also involve radiotherapy, brachytherapy, targeted radioisotope therapy or surgery, each with its own effects.

Before each dose, describe every new symptom, when it began, how it is changing and whether it affects eating, drinking, sleep or daily activity. Keep the oncology contact number with you and carry a treatment record. Take medicines exactly as prescribed; do not use anti-diarrhoea medicines or steroids for a new symptom without checking first. Tell the team about difficulty passing urine, fever, previous autoimmune disease and all supplements. Ask which symptoms should be discussed the same day.

Seek urgent medical help for severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, confusion, sudden weakness, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, black or bloody stools, inability to pass urine, or swelling of the face or throat. Contact the oncology team promptly for persistent diarrhoea, a spreading rash, yellow skin, dark urine, unusual bleeding, severe headache or a major change in energy. Early assessment can prevent a treatable inflammation from becoming more serious.

Ask which side effects are most relevant to your medicine, what number to call day or night, and whether blood tests or scans are planned. Ask when treatment would be delayed, paused or replaced, and how other prostate cancer treatments may affect the symptoms you notice.