Side Effects Associated With Gleevec for GIST

Melissa Shepherd, an acute care nurse practitioner from the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, discusses side effects associated with treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

The most common side effect with Gleevec (imatinib) is fatigue. To combat this fatigue, Shepherd says, patients should stay active, maintain a healthy diet and consider taking the drug at night.

Shepherd says nausea, edema, rash, diarrhea and thyroid issues can all also occur.