SIDE EFFECTS OF
TARGETED THERAPY
Targeted therapy side effects are not random -- they follow directly from each drug mechanism. Understanding your specific drug class tells you exactly what to watch for and when to call.
Side Effects by Drug Class
| Drug Class | Key Side Effects | Urgent: Contact Same Day |
|---|---|---|
| EGFR inhibitors (lung, colorectal) | Acneiform skin rash, dry skin, paronychia, diarrhea, mucositis | Grade 3+ rash; severe diarrhea with dehydration |
| ALK / ROS1 / RET inhibitors | Visual disturbances, peripheral edema, elevated cholesterol; cognitive changes (lorlatinib) | Significant vision changes; new neurological symptoms |
| HER2-targeted agents (trastuzumab-based) | Cardiac function reduction; pulmonary toxicity (T-DXd specifically) | Any new shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms -- do not wait |
| BRAF/MEK inhibitors (melanoma) | Pyrexia (recurrent fever), photosensitivity, joint pain, secondary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma | High or persistent fever; new skin lesions |
| BCR-ABL inhibitors (CML) | Drug-specific: fluid retention (imatinib), QT prolongation (nilotinib), pleural effusion (dasatinib) | Significant fluid accumulation; chest symptoms |
| CDK4/6 inhibitors (breast cancer) | Neutropenia, fatigue, GI symptoms, liver enzyme elevation | Signs of infection during neutropenia nadir |
| PARP inhibitors | Nausea (worst first weeks), fatigue, anemia | Severe cytopenias; signs of myelodysplastic syndrome (rare long-term) |
| Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) | Nausea, fatigue; interstitial lung disease (ILD) -- serious and potentially life-threatening | Any new cough, shortness of breath, or breathing difficulty -- report same day |
Frequently Asked Questions
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination — travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
Managing Side Effects of Your Targeted Therapy?
CancerFax connects patients with specialist oncologists who can help manage targeted therapy side effects and maintain treatment continuity.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified oncologist before making treatment decisions.