Pooja Agarwal Pooja Agarwal Asked 7 months ago

Can immunotherapy make cancer worse?

My friend is considering immunotherapy for her cancer, but she's also worried about potential risks. I heard some treatments can have unexpected effects. Is there a possibility that immunotherapy could actually make cancer worse?

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10 answers

Ananya Sen Ananya Sen Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago
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Actually, immunotherapy is highly targeted, but sometimes there can be side effects like hyperprogression where the tumor seems to grow faster. It's a complex medical phenomenon, and only your oncologist can evaluate if the treatment is working. Please don't take any decisions without discussing with your doctor.

Rajesh Malhotra Rajesh Malhotra Joined Feb 2026 7 months ago

Please don't delay talking to the doctor if you feel things are getting worse. I ignored minor changes during my own illness thinking it was normal and paid a heavy price later. Get it checked immediately, even a small doubt should be cleared by the specialist.

Karan Sawant Karan Sawant Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago

Yaar, actually immunotherapy works differently for everyone, some people face weird flare-ups in the beginning. It's better to talk to the doc directly instead of googling and getting scared. Stay strong, things will get sorted.

Meera Nair Meera Nair Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

Even I was reading about this online and got so scared thinking about the side effects. Has anyone here actually faced severe issues or fast growth after starting immunotherapy? Pls share your experience, it will help me calm down a bit.

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Consult a radiation oncologist

Aman Preet Singh Aman Preet Singh Joined Jun 2026 5 months ago

I am quite new to understanding cancer treatments and my uncle is about to start this soon. Can someone please tell me what kind of tests the doctors do to check if the therapy is actually working? Sorry if this is a basic question, just trying to learn.

Vikram Sethi Vikram Sethi Joined Mar 2026 7 months ago

I totally get it, seeing unexpected changes or hearing scary terms can make anyone feel hopeless. Cancer treatments are a roller coaster ride emotionally and physically. Just hold on, discuss every single symptom with your doc, and take it one day at a time.

Harish Chandra Harish Chandra Joined Apr 2026 7 months ago

Beta, at my age, I have seen many friends go through cancer treatments. Sometimes the body takes time to react, and initially, it might feel like things are going downhill before they improve. Have faith in your doctors and follow their protocol patiently.

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Shalini Prasad Shalini Prasad Joined May 2026 5 months ago

It is incredibly exhausting to deal with these doubts while fighting cancer. I remember crying for nights thinking the treatment was harming me instead of helping. Please be gentle with yourself, these fears are very normal but do share them with your care team.

Sunita Fernandes Sunita Fernandes Joined May 2026 5 months ago

My family member had severe autoimmune side effects during their immunotherapy session and we had to rush to the hospital. Do not wait or self-medicate if you see any new pain, breathing issues, or extreme fatigue. Directly contact your doctor's emergency team immediately.

Rohan Deshmukh Rohan Deshmukh Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

There are some clinical studies showing a rare response called hyperprogressive disease with immunotherapy, but it depends entirely on the patient's genetic markers. I keep track of oncology research papers on my health apps, and the consensus is that only regular scans can confirm the trend. Keep your medical team in the loop constantly.

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