Like all medicines, CAR T cell therapy can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Your healthcare team will identify and manage these side effects with you. But it is still important for you to understand what to look out for and let your team know as soon as possible should any side effects occur.
Before starting treatment, your doctor or healthcare team will explain the potential side effects and what may happen if you experience them.
Common side effects
Understanding and being aware of common side effects may help you and those around you feel better prepared. Some of the most common side effects can occur because CAR T can over-stimulate your immune system.
Although there are different side effects of CAR T treatment included within your patient information leaflet the two most common are cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic adverse reactions (NAR).
Your healthcare team are trained to identify and manage the side effects of your prescribed CAR T treatment.