Cancer Immunotherapy: Friend or Foe of Mental Health? Publisher



Saghazadeh A^{1, 2} ; Rezaei N^{1, 3, 4}
Source: Cancer Genetics and Psychotherapy Published:2017

Abstract

Cancer morbidity with mental health problems is of utmost importance due to its considerable impact on mortality. Clinical trials demonstrate that immunotherapy could achieve clinical benefit in patients with cancer. However immunotherapy, like other treatments, has its potential side-effects such as autoimmunity, inflammatory responses, and immunosuppressive conditions-related side effects. As such evidence indicates that cancer immunotherapy might alter the patients' mental health status, particularly depressive symptomatology, fatigue, anorexia, anxiety, and life quality, according to the immunotherapy-related factors, e.g. type, dosage, and regimen. The present chapter corroborates a number of conflicts concerning the possible link between cancer immunotherapy and mental health. © Springer International Publishing AG 2017. All rights reserved.