Targeted therapies may be used alone or together with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery. A molecular test can check if the cancer cells in a lung tumour express the targets of targeted therapies.

Targeted therapies work by targeting specific genes or proteins which may slow down or stop cancer from growing or slow down its spread. It may help shrink the cancer in some cases.

Janet
“My doctor and I discussed my situation and now I'm on targeted therapy.”
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As with any treatment options, there may be side effects.

Side effects may vary with the type of targeted therapy. Very common side effects may include: tiredness, difficulty sleeping, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, change in sense of taste and touch, swelling, dizziness, headaches, pain in joints, bones muscles or nerves including the back and extremities, weakness of muscles/spasms, weight gain/loss, loss of appetite, nosebleed and serious bleeding problems, difficulty swallowing, cough, fever, chills, rash, and other skin effects, anemia (low red blood cells), low neutrophils and leukocytes (types of white blood cells), dehydration, vision/eye problems, lung problems/infections, liver problems, increased liver enzymes and other enzymes, high blood sugar, chest pain, low heart rate, high or low blood pressure, urinary tract infection, hyponatremia (low levels of sodium in the blood), nail disorders, heartburn/indigestion, excessive sweating, dry mouth, inflammation of the lining of the nose or mouth (e.g., sore mouth or mouth ulcers) and other membranes, shortness of breath, stuffy nose, nose bleeds, neurological/psychiatric reactions such as depression, vocal change/impairment, and hair loss.

Serious warnings and precautions for targeted therapies may include:

  • These medications should be prescribed by a health care professional experienced in the treatment and management of patients with cancer
  • Your doctor may test for mutation status
  • Serious reactions (which can include fatal reactions) listed here have been reported:
    • - Liver toxicity/failure
    • - Gastrointestinal problems such as perforation (a hole through the wall of the stomach or intestine)
    • - Diarrhea
    • - Skin problems
    • - Trouble breathing, cough and fever
    • - Lung diseases
    • - Heart/ blood pressure problems
    • - Eye problems
    • - Fever
    • - Harm to an unborn baby
    • - Secondary cancers
    • - Serious bleeding
    • - Blood clots
    • - High blood sugar
    • - High pancreatic enzymes
    • - High creatine phosphokinase
    • - May decrease the effect of hormonal birth control

Be sure to talk to your doctor about any side effects that you experience.