Introduction

Abstract

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in men after prostate cancer, and the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in women after breast cancer. It is the most deadly of all cancer types, accounting for around 150,000 deaths annually. There have been several new advances in the treatment of lung cancer in the past 10 years, mostly in the form of targeted therapies and immunotherapies. These novel agents have superior efficacy in patients with lung cancer who exhibit certain molecular abnormalities or biomarkers. Targeted therapies and immunotherapies used in lung cancer often cause very different side effects than traditional chemotherapy. Oncology nurses and practitioners must be knowledgeable about how to detect and manage these side effects in order to safely keep patients on treatment.