The most common side effects of cancer therapy include hair changes, skin changes, nail changes, eye changes, among others. Side effects of targeted therapy can vary depending on the type of therapy you're receiving. Some side effects happen more often than others, and some can be more serious than others. You should talk to your medical team about what to pay attention to or how to take care of them yourself. Here is more information about the more common side effects:
Hair Changes Due to Targeted Therapy
Common hair changes associated with targeted therapy for cancer include: sores in places where hair grows, or notice changes in the structure or colour of your hair. Targeted therapy can cause hair loss. Hair changes as a result of targeted therapy typically develop over time. This doesn't mean that you are allergic to the drug (2).
Skin Changes Due to Targeted Therapy
When drugs like EGFR inhibitors attack the special proteins associated with some healthy cells, it can produce skin irritations, dry and brittle skin, and rashes. You may be prescribed products to ease these symptoms. But speak to your doctor first (4).
Nail Changes
Some common nail changes associated with targeted therapy include swollen, red, painful sores around fingernails and toenails, which can lead to infected nails or nailbeds (5).
Eye Changes from Targeted Therapy
Eye changes as a result of targeted therapy include:
- Dryness
- Redness
- Swelling
- Eyelids turning inward or outward
- Eyelashes growing longer
- Distorted eyelids, or
- Damage to the cornea (6)
It's recommended that you speak to your doctor about these changes and get proper management.
Allergic or Infusion Reaction Caused by Targeted Therapy
This might start very soon after you've taken targeted therapy drugs. Some symptoms to watch out for are hives and intense itching (7). Other more serious symptoms can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Tightness in your throat or chest, and
- Swelling of your lips or your tongue.
If you experience more severe symptoms, you should get emergency care right away.
Blood Pressure
Targeted cancer therapy can cause higher blood pressure. Common drugs that do so include BTK inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, and MEK inhibitors, among others (8). If your blood pressure spikes during treatment with targeted therapy, you may be prescribed special medicines to help reduce blood pressure.
Bleeding and Clotting Due to Targeted Therapy
While bleeding and clotting as a result of cancer therapy are very rare, cancer therapy can cause bruising, bleeding and clotting. Blood clots can form in your lungs or legs. Also, blood clots can cause heart attacks or strokes (9). Immediately alert your doctor if you experience any symptoms like:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Vision problems
- Trouble speaking
- Vomiting
- Blood in your stool
- Swollen, painful, and red skin on one or both legs or calves
Slow Wound Healing
Some targeted therapy drugs can interfere with how your body heals wounds. Sometimes wounds may open inside your body or on the outside. If you experience any stomach pain or vomiting, you should tell your doctor (10). If you have surgery planned, tell your healthcare team. Some targeted therapies may need to be paused before and after surgery to allow proper wound healing.
Heart Damage
Symptoms of heart damage can occur as a result of targeted therapy (11). These include:
- Chest pain
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Increased coughing
- Trouble breathing
Autoimmune Reaction after Targeted Therapy
Some targeted therapies can affect immune function, but widespread autoimmune side effects are more commonly associated with certain types of immunotherapy. The risk depends on the medicine being used (12).
Swelling and Targeted Therapy
Swelling can also be a side effect of targeted therapy and is usually experienced on the face, around the eyes, and in the feet and legs as well (13).
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