Cancer Immunotherapy

Some immuno-oncology treatments are pills or shots that you can take at home. Others you receive through an intravenous (IV) line, and you must go to the hospital or clinic to get them. If this is the case, your cancer care team will advise you how long you need to stay at the hospital or clinic.

Immunotherapy treatment schedules vary. You may receive it once a day, a couple of times a day, once a week or once a month. Your doctor will tell you how often and how long you’ll need treatment.

Multidisciplinary Team Approach

In the Immuno-Oncology Program, we use a team approach to offer full-service cancer care. Our team consists of these and other specialists:

During your initial visit, an oncology fellow, a nurse coordinator and an attending medical oncologist will review your case in detail. They present the information that they gather at your first visit during our weekly patient conference. In this way, we develop our final recommendations for your treatment plan through a comprehensive review and input from all members of the Immuno-Oncology Program.

A clinical research associate may meet with you at one of your appointments to ask if you want to join a clinical trial. Our studies are completely voluntary and will not affect your medical care if you decide not to participate.

Side Effects of Immunotherapy

Just like other forms of cancer treatment, immuno-oncology treatments sometimes cause side effects. Side effects can include these and others: 

• Flu-like symptoms such as:
  • Bone Pain
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle aches
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
• Low blood pressure
• Rashes or swelling where your care team injects the treatment

Ongoing Support & Resources

Our program gives you access to many exceptional resources at BIDMC. We regularly consult with surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, palliative care, nutritionists and pain management specialists. We can offer you timely and efficient referrals to these services as needed.

We have a team of social workers dedicated to the special needs of oncology patients. They will be glad to meet with you and your family at any time.

What should I bring?

Your medical insurance information: If you are covered by an HMO or an out-of-state insurance plan, you will need to obtain authorization or referral from your primary care physician (PCP) prior to your appointment. If we do not have an authorization or referral at the time of your visit, you may be asked to sign a waiver, which assigns the financial responsibility to you for services provided.

Your medical records: We must receive all medical records related to your diagnosis (including prior history of your disease diagnosis) from all physicians caring for you prior to your appointment. Records can be faxed to 617-632-9260.

Your radiologic films/scans: Your radiology films/scans (chest X-rays, ultrasounds, CT, MRI, PET or bone scans) must be hand-carried by you to your appointment and we request that they be digitized onto a CD if possible.

Your pathology/cytology slides: We must receive all of your pathology/cytology slides no later than one day prior to your appointment. This includes all pathology/cytology slides with reports from all biopsies, fine needle aspiration and/or other surgical procedures related to your diagnosis (including prior history of your disease diagnosis). Our staff will handle the requisitioning of these materials and contact you if we need your assistance and/or signature authorization to obtain. If for any reason we are unable to obtain your pathology slides and reports prior to your appointment, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.

May I bring a family member or a friend with me?

We encourage you to bring a family member or a friend to your appointment. Having such a person with you can provide support and another set of ears to hear the information you receive from the physicians regarding your diagnosis or plan of treatment.

Where do I check in?

Our clinic is located in the Shapiro Clinical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, 9th Floor, Reception A.

How do I get to the hospital?

Follow the links below based on your specific needs. The Biologics Clinic is located in the Shapiro Clinical Center, which is part of BIDMC's East Campus. Patients can enter the Shapiro Clinical Center either at the Brookline Avenue entrance or the Longwood/Binney Street entrance near Starbucks Coffee.

Where do I park and how much does it cost?

The most convenient place to park is in the garage below the Shapiro Clinical Center. The entrance to the garage is behind the building off Binney Street. You can expect to pay up to $20 for parking depending on the length of your appointment.

Note: If you park in the East Campus Main Garage, you will arrive at the Feldberg building and will need to walk to get to the Shapiro Clinical Center. You can walk along Brookline Avenue toward Longwood Avenue. The entrance to the Shapiro Clinical Center is approximately two blocks down the street. Alternatively, go inside to the second floor of the Feldberg building, and follow the signs to the Shapiro Clinical Center.

BIDMC researchers are exploring new treatments and novel agents added to existing treatments. They are also studying how to improve the selection criteria for systemic therapy (affecting the entire body) to enhance patient outcomes.

Your physician will help you evaluate whether participation in a cancer clinical trial or immuno-oncology clinical trial is appropriate for you.