Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Nivolumab is a type of immunotherapy drug called a checkpoint inhibitor. It may be given to people after surgery or to some people with advanced oesophageal cancer.
This area of cancer treatment is changing rapidly. Talk to your doctor about whether immunotherapy is an option for you.
For more on this, see our general Immunotherapy section.
Side effects of immunotherapy
The side effects of immunotherapy can vary from person to person. Immunotherapy can cause redness, swelling or pain (inflammation) in any of the organs of the body, leading to common side effects such as fatigue, skin rash, diarrhoea and cough. The inflammation can lead to more serious side effects in some people, but this will be monitored closely and any issues will be managed quickly.
Let your treatment team know immediately if you develop any side effects or have concerns.
→ READ MORE: Palliative treatment for oesophageal cancer
Video: What is immunotherapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about drug therapies like immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
Podcast: About Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
Prof David I Watson, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Flinders University, and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Oesophago-Gastric Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Kieran Cahill, Consumer; Jessica Jong, Clinical Dietitian, Upper GI and Hepatobiliary Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; John Leung, Consumer; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA; Dr Sarah Sutherland, Medical Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Paula Swannock, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, VIC; Rebecca Yeoh, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland.
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