Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are other types of drug therapies. They can sometimes be used to treat cervical cancer.
Learn more about:
Targeted therapy
This is a drug treatment that attacks specific features of cancer cells to stop the cancer growing and spreading. It may be used to treat advanced cervical cancer that has spread to other parts of the body or has come back.
It is usually given with chemotherapy every 3 weeks through a drip into a vein (infusion). The total number of infusions you receive will depend on how you respond to the drug.
Side effects of targeted therapy
The most common side effects include:
- high blood pressure
- feeling tired
- loss of appetite.
Less common side effects include bleeding, blood clots and problems with wound healing.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of drug treatment that helps the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. It may be offered to certain people with cervical cancer that has not responded to treatment, has spread or has come back. It is usually given at the same time as chemotherapy.
Side effects of immunotherapy
This treatment can have a range of side effects. Common side effects can include:
- fatigue
- diarrhoea
- itching
- joint pain
Learn more about targeted therapy, immunotherapy and see the video and podcast below.
→ READ MORE: Managing side effects of cervical cancer
Video: What are targeted therapy and immunotherapy?
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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