Managing the Side Effects of INTRON® A Treatment

Many ways to cope

Side effects are problems that come up when cancer treatment affects healthy tissues or organs in the body at the same time it's fighting cancer.

The side effects of INTRON® A usually start in the first few weeks of treatment and they can be a real challenge. But they ARE manageable. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, changes in taste and smell, and loss of appetite can affect your life, work, and relationships.

Some common side effects of INTRON® A may become milder over time. Every person's experience is different in terms of how difficult any side effect may be and how long it lasts.

Your treatment team will talk to you about the side effects you may experience and they'll suggest ways to manage them. You may also be able to talk to a nurse counselor to help you manage side effects. A nurse counselor will follow up with you during treatment and help you find ways to work through the side effects that bother you the most.

In this section, you'll find ways to manage some of the most common side effects that people experience during treatment with INTRON® A:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Fatigue and low energy levels
• Discomfort related to food and digestion
• Mood disturbances
• Other possible changes such as hair thinning or skin discomfort
• Autoimmunity

For a complete list of side effects that were noted in clinical studies, please see the INTRON® A Prescribing Information (PDF) and Medication Guide (PDF).

Patients are strongly advised to seek the help of a health care professional whenever one or more of these side effects becomes unmanageable.

These side effects typically start in the first few weeks of treatment and become less bothersome over time, though reactions can vary in both duration and intensity from person to person.