Managing Side Effects Unfortunately, side effects are a reality of every treatment option. Side effects vary by treatment and by individual. Some patients experience every possible side effect while others experience very few, and sometimes no side effects from their treatment. Common side effects of certain immunotherapy and targeted therapy melanoma treatments include, but are not limited to:
• Diarrhea • V itiligo (loss of pigment) • Skin rash
• Itching • Fever • Fatigue
• Nausea • Constipation • Joint pain
• Lymphedema • Thyroid issues • Colitis
Be sure to talk to your doctor about all side effects that you experience as soon as you begin experiencing them. This will allow your treatment team to manage the side effects more effectively.
TIPS TO REMEMBER
1 Never hesitate to mention your side effects to your treatment team. Keeping your treatment team informed of all side effects as soon as they occur is of the utmost importance. 2 Experiencing few or no side effects does not mean the treatment isn’t working. 3 It’s impossible to know how you will react to any given treatment. 4 There is no blanket treatment for melanoma — everyone’s case is different.
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