Side Effect Management

Pneumonitis, a lung inflammation, often appears months after the cancer treatment that sparked it.

CURE sat down with Suresh S. Ramalingam to discuss important considerations for patients, caregivers, nurses and physicians when treatment with an immunotherapy begins.

Surgery has its side effects, says radiation oncologist Richard Stock, including possible incontinence and sexual dysfunction. While radiation is less invasive, it does have its own side effects.

In a recent study, researchers looked at statins and survival outcomes, along with potential side effects, in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Naomi Haas, of the Abramson Cancer Center, explains the potential side effects of a class of drugs called mTOR inhibitors, primarily the agents Sutent and Nexavar.

According to a recent analysis of a large national database, patients with a history of breast cancer have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer than the general population, particularly if they receive adjuvant radiation therapy.

Talk with almost any cancer survivor, and he or she is likely to bring up the topic of "chemobrain," that fuzzy, murky state that patients blame for impaired memory. A review of the research shows how we're focusing on the problem.

Intimacy after a cancer diagnosis can be difficult due to emotional and physical side effects, but it can also be an important part of healing.

Michelle Gervino, an oncology nurse with John Theurer Cancer Center, advises patients to communicate with their medical team about any side effects they may be experiencing.

Journalist Joan Lunden shares her experience with breast cancer, side effects and working through treatment.

Jenna Forsythe, an oncology nurse at John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, says many patients newly diagnosed with cancer will need to allow themselves to lean on their medical team, especially in regards to symptom management.

Oncology nurse Linda Casey encourages caregivers to be vigilant in watching for signs and symptoms of anything abnormal in the patient, such as certain side effects.