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.
Learn more about immunotherapy, and see the video and podcast below.
→ READ MORE: Managing side effects of cervical cancer
Video: What are immunotherapy and targeted therapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about targeted therapy and immunotherapy (Open Settings 
to turn on auto-generated subtitles in your language).
Podcast: Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy
Listen to more of our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Dr Antonia Jones, Gynaecological Oncologist, Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne, VIC; Angelyn Aligarbes, Consumer; A/Prof Emma Allanson, Gynaecological Oncologist and Head of Dept, Gynaecologic Oncology, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, WA; Gemma Busuttil, Radiation Therapist Specialist, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Laura Carman, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council VIC; Danielle Carpenter, Gynaecology Nurse Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; A/Prof Pearly Khaw, Lead Radiation Oncologist – Gynae-Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Georgina Richter, Gynae-Oncology Clinical Nurse Consultant, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; A/Prof Megan Smith, Research Fellow, Cancer Elimination Collaboration, University of Sydney, NSW; Sophia Wooldridge, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Hunter New England Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, John Hunter Hospital, NSW; Melissa Whalen, Consumer.
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