Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. It is sometimes used after surgery or to treat people with advanced oesophageal cancer.
This type of cancer treatment is changing rapidly. Talk to your doctor about whether immunotherapy is an option for you.
Learn more about immunotherapy.
Side effects of immunotherapy
The side effects of immunotherapy can vary from person to person. Immunotherapy can cause redness, swelling or pain (inflammation) in any of the organs of the body. This may cause side effects such as fatigue, skin rash, diarrhoea and cough.
In some people, the inflammation can lead to more serious side effects, but this will be monitored, and any issues will be managed quickly.
Let your treatment team know immediately if you develop any side effects or have concerns.
→ READ MORE: Palliative treatment for oesophageal cancer
Video: What is immunotherapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about drug therapies like immunotherapy and targeted therapy (Open Settings 
to turn on auto-generated subtitles in your language).
Podcast: About Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
Prof David Watson, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Flinders University, and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Oesophago-Gastric Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Dr Natalie Collier, Radiation Oncologist, Wollongong Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, A/Executive Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Natalie Lalor, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; Chris Menzies, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Tammy Milne, Consumer; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA.
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