Name a common side effect associated with immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy is designed to enhance or restore the immune system's ability to fight cancer, and one of the significant risks of this approach is the potential for autoimmune reactions. This occurs because immunotherapy can stimulate the immune system not only to target cancer cells but also to mistakenly attack healthy cells, leading to inflammation and damage in various organs.

Examples of autoimmune reactions that can occur as side effects of immunotherapy include colitis (inflammation of the colon), pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs), dermatitis (skin rashes), and endocrinopathies (affecting hormone-producing glands). These reactions underscore the unique nature of immunotherapy compared to traditional treatments, which typically have more predictable side effects.

Other side effects such as hair loss and nausea are more commonly associated with chemotherapy rather than immunotherapy. While anemia can be a concern for patients undergoing cancer treatment, it is not a direct side effect specifically related to immunotherapy; it tends to be more associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Thus, autoimmune reactions stand out as a hallmark side effect that distinguishes immunotherapy within cancer treatment.