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The immune system is your body’s natural defense system. It searches the body for potential threats like infections. But, cancer cells have found ways to hide from immune cells. This allows cancer cells to grow without being detected and spread throughout the body. Immunotherapy is different from chemotherapy. Chemotherapy attacks cancer cells directly, while immunotherapy re-programs your immune system to do the work of finding and killing cancer cells.
Find more information about how immunotherapy works.
Before you begin immunotherapy, it’s important you tell your doctor if you:
Be sure to also tell your doctor your complete medical history, including any changes in medications. Once you begin immunotherapy, it’s very important that you keep all your scheduled appointments. Taking regular and consistent doses is critical.
Because of how immunotherapy might affect your system, it’s important to tell every doctor taking care of you that you’re on immunotherapy. This includes:
Fox Chase Cancer Center will give you an Immunotherapy Identification card with our contact information on it. Be sure to show this card to anyone who will be treating you for any reason. We encourage providers to contact us for more information or if they have any questions about your care.
Immunotherapy can come with different side effects than chemotherapy or other infusion treatments. You may experience any of the following side effects:
Because immunotherapy medications change the way the immune system works, it’s very important to report all side effects to your treatment team, especially symptoms that are new or affecting your daily life. Side effects can turn more serious if not prevented correctly, or stopped early. Having side effects does not necessarily mean you will have to stop your treatment. It’s possible to reverse some symptoms if they are caught early, and many times, they be treated with other medicines.
These problems can begin anytime during immunotherapy treatment or even after your treatment has ended, which is why you’ll be closely monitored during and after treatment.
Call Fox Chase right away if you're experiencing:
It's very important that you talk to your team about your side effects. You must call your team as soon as the side effects start. Do not wait for the symptoms to get worse. In many cases, it’s possible to reverse some symptoms if they’re reported early.
If you have trouble breathing or shortness of breath, or chest pain, call 9-1-1 immediately.
If you're unable to eat or drink, or have other uncontrolled, or unexpected side effects, go to the Emergency Room. If you have any of these symptoms during your infusion appointment, get the attention of a nurse immediately. Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus functions as the Emergency Room for Fox Chase Cancer Center. Please go to Jeanes Campus or to your nearest hospital with an Emergency Room.
During weekday daytime hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5pm), call 215-728-4300. You may talk to someone live, or your call will go to voicemail. Please leave a message with your name, medical record number, date of birth and the reason for your call. A nurse will call you back on the same day. Be sure to tell us the best phone number to reach you.
If you have a medical emergency on an evening or weekend, call Fox Chase Cancer Center’s on-call system at 215-728-6900.