Immunotherapy is a type of drug treatment that helps the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug that may be offered to certain people with cervical cancer that has not responded to treatment, has spread or has come back. Pembrolizumab is given with chemotherapy drugs and sometimes with bevacizumab.
Side effects of immunotherapy
Immunotherapy can have a range of side effects. Because this therapy is given with chemotherapy there may also be side effects related to the chemotherapy. Common side effects of pembrolizumab include fatigue, diarrhoea, itching and joint pain.
Rarely, pembrolizumab can affect other organs including the heart, lungs, bowel or thyroid gland and these side effects can sometimes be life-threatening. It’s important to let your treatment team know about any new or worsening side affects during or after treatment. Don’t try to treat side effects yourself.
For more on this, see our general section on Immunotherapy or see the video and podcast below.
→ READ MORE: Palliative treatment for cervical cancer
Video: What are immunotherapy and targeted therapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about targeted therapy and immunotherapy
Podcast: Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy
Listen to more of our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Prof Martin Oehler, Director of Gynaecological Oncology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, and Clinical Professor, University of Adelaide, SA; Dawn Bedwell, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council QLD; Gemma Busuttil, Radiation Therapist, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Dr Antonia Jones, Gynaecological Oncologist, The Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women, VIC; Angela Keating, Senior Psychologist, Royal Hospital for Women, NSW; Anne Mellon, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Gynaecological Oncology, Hunter New England Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, NSW; Dr Inger Olesen, Medical Oncologist, Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC; Dr Serena Sia, Radiation Oncologist, Fiona Stanley Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital, WA; A/Prof Megan Smith, Co-lead, Cervical Cancer and HPV Stream, The Daffodil Centre, Cancer Council NSW and The University of Sydney, NSW; Emily Stevens, Gynaecology Oncology Nurse Coordinator, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Melissa Whalen, Consumer.
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