Once
a cancer patient’s treatments have ended, there is still a chance that
he or she can experience side effects. Some side effects can continue
after treatment or surface months or years after treatment. There is not
a lot of concrete information that is known about cancer treatment side
effects, but they can vary by treatment type and individual
circumstances.
Physicians
aren’t sure why these effects occur late. Some doctors think the side
effects may have been there during treatment, but they weren’t noticed
because the body was counteracting them and after treatment the body no
longer does this, thus they begin to emerge later.
Side
effects that are apparent during cancer treatment can continue to last
months or years afterward. Most long-term effects reduce over time or
completely disappear. An example of a long-term side effect is
peripheral neuropathy. It can occur during chemotherapy treatment and
continue months or years after treatment has been completed.
What Chemotherapy Treatments Cause Late Side Effects?
In
general, chemotherapy treatments are more likely to cause late effects
than other types of cancer treatments. Not all cancer patients may
experience long-term or late effects and different chemotherapy drugs
may cause various effects.
Some of the following are long-term side effects from chemotherapy treatment:
- fatigue
- neuropathy
- chemobrain
- heart failure
- kidney failure
- infertility
- liver problems
- menopausal symptoms
Some of the following are late side effects from chemotherapy treatment:
- cataracts
- osteoporosis
- chemobrain
- reduced lung capacity
- lung disease
- infertility
- liver problems
- second primary cancers
More Information About Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
If
cancer patients need more information, or have questions on how to
manage chemotherapy side effects, they can contact The American Cancer
Society at 1-800-ACS-2345, or read an online booklet, Understanding Chemotherapy: A Guide for Patients and their Families, at the following web address: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/ETO_1_5x_Guide_for_Patients_and_Families.asp