Dr. Nanus on Managing Side Effects from Immunotherapy in RCC

David M. Nanus, MD, medical oncologist, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, discusses managing side effects from immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

More oncologists are recognizing immune-related side effects of patients being treated with immunotherapy as the treatment becomes more widely available. For patients with RCC, the more prevalent side effects are rashes, nephritis, hepatitis, and adrenal insufficiency, Nanus says.

The community is gaining a better understanding of these side effects, but medical professionals who do not often deal with these drugs, may not know what to do when a patient with cancer being treated on immunotherapy presents with fatigue. Nanus says that internists and other non-oncologists must be aware of these side effects. Additionally, patients should seek counsel from their medical oncologists if they are observing concerning immune-related side effects .