Cancer HorizonsAll NewsBlogsCaregivingDiet and ExerciseFinancialPsychosocialRecipesSexual HealthSide EffectSponsoredSurvivorship
All VideosCURE ConnectionsCURE Expert Connections®CURE Speaking OutCURE TVEducated Patient Sound BitesOn Demand: Webinars
Conference Coverage Conference Listing
CURE AdventuresCURE AwardsEducated Patient In Person EducationEducated Patient Virtual Education
Advocacy GroupsArt GalleryClinical Trial CornerHeal®PartnersPodcastsPublicationsShare Your Story
Subscribe
Blood CancersBlood CancersBlood CancersBlood CancersBlood Cancers
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast Cancer
Childhood Cancers
Gastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal Cancers
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancerGynecologic CancerGynecologic CancerGynecologic CancerGynecologic Cancer
Head & Neck Cancer
Immunotherapy
LeukemiaLeukemiaLeukemia
Lung CancerLung Cancer
LymphomaLymphomaLymphomaLymphomaLymphoma
Rare CancersRare CancersRare CancersRare Cancers
Sarcoma
Skin Cancer/MelanomaSkin Cancer/Melanoma
Thyroid Cancer
Spotlight -
  • Blogs
  • Breast Cancer Webinar Series
  • Cancer Horizons
  • Clinical Trial Corner
  • Heal®
  • Publications
  • Videos
Blood CancersBlood CancersBlood CancersBlood CancersBlood Cancers
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast Cancer
Childhood Cancers
Gastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal Cancers
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancerGynecologic CancerGynecologic CancerGynecologic CancerGynecologic Cancer
Head & Neck Cancer
Immunotherapy
LeukemiaLeukemiaLeukemia
Lung CancerLung Cancer
LymphomaLymphomaLymphomaLymphomaLymphoma
Rare CancersRare CancersRare CancersRare Cancers
Sarcoma
Skin Cancer/MelanomaSkin Cancer/Melanoma
Thyroid Cancer
    • Subscribe
Advertisement

Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit: April 9, 2022 : Episode 12

Video

April 30, 2022

Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit IO/TKI-Related Side Effects Presentation: April 9, 2022

Author(s):

Brielle Benyon

Watch Louise Gunter, from Texas Oncology, discuss IO/TKI-related side effects, during the CURE Educated Patient Kidney Cancer Summit.

EP: 1.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Staging Presentation: April 9, 2022

EP: 2.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Genetic Testing in RCC Presentation: April 9, 2022

EP: 3.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Diagnosis Panel: April 9, 2022

EP: 4.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Surgical Options Presentation: April 9, 2022

EP: 5.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Adjuvant Therapy Options Presentation: April 9, 2022

EP: 6.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Frontline Therapy Panel: April 9, 2022

EP: 7.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Panel on Immunotherapy/TKI Combo Treatment: April 9, 2022

EP: 8.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Panel on Side Effects from Immunotherapy/TKI Combo Treatment: April 9, 2022

EP: 9.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Panel on Communicating With Providers About Immunotherapy/TKI Combo Treatment: April 9, 2022

EP: 10.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit IO/IO Therapies Presentation: April 9, 2022

EP: 11.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit IO/TKI Therapies Presentation: April 9, 2022

Now Viewing

EP: 12.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit IO/TKI-Related Side Effects Presentation: April 9, 2022

EP: 13.Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit Combination Therapy Panel: April 9, 2022

Immunotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are “powerful drugs,” and often come with side effects that patients with kidney cancer should be aware of, explained Louise Gunter during the CURE® Educated Patient® Kidney Cancer Summit

“As the side effects declare themselves, we try to manage them with other medication until they become too severe or impact your quality of life. And then the dose will be reduced. Two-thirds of patients will have a dose reduction, so don’t be discouraged by this. Expect it,” Gunter, a physician’s assistant at Texas Oncology, said in her presentation at the summit, held April 9, 2022.

Immunotherapy Side Effects

Immunotherapy drugs work by turning on the immune system and helping it to recognize — and therefore attack — cancer cells. In doing so, these drugs cause inflammation, which can affect any organ in the body.

“If things get too inflamed, we can give you some steroids to be used as an antidote to calm things down. But it’s very important that you tell (the health care team) how you’re feeling right away,” Gunter said.

Gunter explained that inflammation of the skin can cause rash, while inflammation in the joints will lead to patients feeling pain in their muscles and joints. When patients experience inflammation in their digestive tract, they may feel nausea or have diarrhea, while inflammation of the lung will cause cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. In addition, abdominal pain, yellowing eyes or dark urine may be signs of liver inflammation.

TKI Side Effects

TKI drugs, which work by blocking certain proteins on kidney cancer cells, causing them to die, have their own set of side effects that patients should be aware of, too.

Most commonly, patients on TKIs may experience fatigue, high blood pressure, diarrhea, decreased appetite, nausea and vocal changes. Gunter said that serious side effects are rare (occurring in about 4% of patients), but possible. They include bleeding, blood clots and injury to the kidney or liver.

Similar to immunotherapy side effects, open communication with the treatment team is key.

“The most important thing we can do is intervene early. You are not being a burden to us (by contacting us). We want you to call your team,” Gunter said. “The earlier we know about what you’re experiencing, the easier you will be to treat. We will use other medicines to optimize your ability to tolerate these drugs before we reduce your dose.”

How to Manage Common Side Effects

Cancer treatments, pain medications or even the disease itself can all lead to fatigue. Gunter recommends establishing a baseline at the beginning of treatment so that patients and their clinicians can monitor if the fatigue is getting significantly worse.

Regarding fatigue management, Gunter recommends exercise and a healthy diet.

“Exercise is always great, but just as tolerated. I’m not talking marathons — walking outside when the weather is nice and moving around the house is important. Keeping up with nutrition is (also) critical, (as is)…alternating activity with rest.”

Gunter also said that about one-third of patients will experience nausea/vomiting as a result of cancer treatment. Here, the main goal is to avoid vomiting, which can make patients dehydrated (as can diarrhea) and can be harmful to the kidneys.

“Do not try to tough this one out,” Gunter said, noting that if patients are feeling nauseated, they may be prescribed a drug called Zofran (ondansetron). “I’ve had patients tell me ‘I’ve been vomiting for three days,’ and they haven’t even started to take their nausea medicine yet. We do not want that to happen.”

Additionally, eating smaller meals consisting of bland foods can help, though patients may experience decreased appetite.

“If you can’t finish a meal, or if you can’t even eat at all, I recommend patients get Boost or Ensure supplements over the counter. Try to get the one with the highest protein (content) in it… a lot of patients will smile when I suggest adding ice cream or even making (meals) into a milkshake.”

Ultimately, it is essential that patients communicate with their clinicians to ensure that they feel as good as possible through their cancer treatment.

“The goals of therapy are not only to extend your life, but also to maintain your quality of life,” Gunter said.


For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Subscribe Now!
Related Videos
Imiage of two doctors with text.
Image of two doctors and text.
Image of patient and doctor.
Image of two doctors with text.
image of gerds
Image of 2 doctors and text.
Image of two doctors and text.
Image of man.
Image of thumbnail.
Image of doctor.
Related Content
Advertisement
Image of hands.
June 18th 2025

The Person Behind Their Diagnosis: Understanding the Patient

Ryan Scott
Dr. Joshua Sabari and Jackie Herigodt discuss the Imerman Angels organization and the importance of recognizing the person behind their cancer diagnosis.
Image of CURE's Cancer Horizons podcast logo: a white microphone with yellow noise lines. Highlights from the 2024 ASCO gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancer conferences.
January 30th 2024

Highlights from the Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Cancer Conferences

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
Here are some of the top stories from the recent Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium as well as the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
image of lung scan.
June 16th 2025

Rybrevant Combo Improves Lung Cancer Outcomes After Tagrisso Failure

Ariana Pelosci
Rybrevant plus chemotherapy improved response and delayed disease progression for patients with EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer after Tagrisso.
cancer horizons podcast logo
December 20th 2023

FDA Approves 3 Treatments, Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved treatment for some patients with neuroblastoma, kidney cancer and bladder cancer. Elsewhere, a cancer vaccine made headlines for the treatment of patients with melanoma.
Sara Gideon, nurse practitioner, is a compassionate oncology nurse who supports patients with cancer: © stock.adobe.com.
June 15th 2025

Where Compassion Meets Care in Breast Cancer

Margaret Valenti, DNP, RN, AHN-BC, MEDSURG-BC
Sara Gideon, nurse practitioner, is a compassionate oncology nurse who supports patients with cancer, streamlines care and leads with dedication.
Image of two doctors with text.
June 13th 2025

Updates in Shared Decision-Making in Lung Cancer Following ASCO 2025

Ryan Scott
Treating patients with lung cancer always calls for a focus on informed and shared decision-making, according to expert oncologists.
Related Content
Advertisement
Image of hands.
June 18th 2025

The Person Behind Their Diagnosis: Understanding the Patient

Ryan Scott
Dr. Joshua Sabari and Jackie Herigodt discuss the Imerman Angels organization and the importance of recognizing the person behind their cancer diagnosis.
Image of CURE's Cancer Horizons podcast logo: a white microphone with yellow noise lines. Highlights from the 2024 ASCO gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancer conferences.
January 30th 2024

Highlights from the Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Cancer Conferences

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
Here are some of the top stories from the recent Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium as well as the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
image of lung scan.
June 16th 2025

Rybrevant Combo Improves Lung Cancer Outcomes After Tagrisso Failure

Ariana Pelosci
Rybrevant plus chemotherapy improved response and delayed disease progression for patients with EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer after Tagrisso.
cancer horizons podcast logo
December 20th 2023

FDA Approves 3 Treatments, Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved treatment for some patients with neuroblastoma, kidney cancer and bladder cancer. Elsewhere, a cancer vaccine made headlines for the treatment of patients with melanoma.
Sara Gideon, nurse practitioner, is a compassionate oncology nurse who supports patients with cancer: © stock.adobe.com.
June 15th 2025

Where Compassion Meets Care in Breast Cancer

Margaret Valenti, DNP, RN, AHN-BC, MEDSURG-BC
Sara Gideon, nurse practitioner, is a compassionate oncology nurse who supports patients with cancer, streamlines care and leads with dedication.
Image of two doctors with text.
June 13th 2025

Updates in Shared Decision-Making in Lung Cancer Following ASCO 2025

Ryan Scott
Treating patients with lung cancer always calls for a focus on informed and shared decision-making, according to expert oncologists.
About Us
Advertise / Support
Editorial Board
Contact Us
CancerNetwork.com
TargetedOnc.com
OncLive.com
OncNursingNews.com
Terms & Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.