There is no set timeline on side effects from chemotherapy. Chemotherapy will affect each person differently. Side effects may appear during therapy and can last long after therapy is over. In some cases, long-term chemotherapy side effects may not occur until months or years after treatment.
Why does chemo make you sick?
Sep 21, 2021 · In some cases, long-term chemotherapy side effects may not occur until months or years after treatment. Some chemotherapy complications may be permanent, while others may subside with time.
What are the long term effects of chemotherapy?
Jan 10, 2016 · The following side effects can occur months, or even years, after chemotherapy treatment. Fatigue Fatigue is a common complaint among patients receiving chemotherapy. In rare cases, patients continue to experience persistent exhaustion and fatigue for many months after being treated with chemotherapy drugs.
How long do symptoms last after chemo session?
The hair can come out as quickly as 1-2 weeks after treatment. I have been done with my 4th treatment (each lasted 5 days straight) and I am having subtle side effects now....tingling feet & toes. So, yes everyone is different so keep an eye out for his subtle side effects. Also be prepared for his tastes & appetite to be funky as well.
How does chemotherapy affect your body after treatment?
Feb 24, 2022 · Many people are familiar with the short-term side effects such as hair loss and nausea, but some side effects may persist or arise months to years after treatment has been completed. When it comes to long-term side effects, keep in mind that everyone is different. Some people may have several of these side effects, while many will have none.
How long does it take to get tired after chemo?
Fatigue. During chemotherapy, most people deal with fatigue, yet a third of people continue to experience fatigue for months to years after chemotherapy is completed. It is important to share this symptom with your doctor because many causes of fatigue are reversible.
What is the most common late effect of chemotherapy?
Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) is the most common late effect of chemotherapy. Most chemotherapy drugs cause bone loss to accelerate and changes in diet that accompany cancer and its treatment can amplify the problem. The greatest concern over the long run are fractures that can result from this bone loss.
How to survive chemo?
Until we know more about long-term survivorship issues following chemotherapy for adults, there are a few things you can do: 1 Ask your oncologist about any late effects that you may expect from the particular chemotherapy drugs you were given. Are there any screening tests (for example, tests for heart problems, hearing loss, or osteoporosis) that she would recommend? 2 Keep a record of your chemotherapy regimen with you in case you see a physician who is unfamiliar with your medical history. 3 If you smoke, quit. 4 Make regular appointments with your dentist and eye doctor. 5 Engage in regular physical activity. 6 Limit your intake of alcohol. 7 Let your doctor know if you experience any new symptoms or worsening of current symptoms you have.
Does chemotherapy cause heart damage?
Chemotherapy can cause cardiac effects early in treatment, but in some cases, the effects may not show up until much later. One notable example is heart damage following treatment with Adriamycin (doxorubicin). With this drug, a possible long-term side effect is weakening of the heart muscle, resulting in a decreased ability to pump blood ...
Does chemotherapy affect memory?
" Chemobrain ," a constellation of symptoms that include problems with memory and concentration, has only recently been recognized as a long-term side effect of chemotherapy. Chemobrain symptoms can be very frustrating and can include symptoms such as problems with short-term memory (losing your car keys), multi-tasking, and concentration, especially when you are tired. An awareness of things you can do to cope with the symptoms can be very helpful. In most cases, chemobrain symptoms improve over time.
Can chemotherapy cause infertility?
Infertility following treatment varies with the dose and type of chemotherapy medications used and doesn’t affect everyone.
Can chemotherapy cause numbness in feet?
Peripheral Neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy from chemotherapy is most often experienced as a sensation of numbness and burning in your feet and hands, along with constipation. This side effect occurs more commonly in people with a history of diabetes, alcoholism, or malnutrition, but may occur in anyone.
What are the side effects of chemo?
Certain chemo drugs can damage cells in your heart. Chemotherapy may also increase your odds of having heart problems, such as: 1 Weakening of the heart muscle ( cardiomyopathy) 2 Problems with your heart rhythm ( arrhythmia) 3 Heart attack
Can chemotherapy make you tired?
But some people still feel extremely tired after treatment ends. You may find that even when you get enough rest, you still feel sluggish. Talk to your doctor for suggestions on how to raise your energy level. Chemotherapy can affect your ability to have children, whether you're a man or woman.
Does chemotherapy affect fertility?
For both men and women, chemotherapy's effect on fertility depends on a number of things, including the type of drugs you used and the dose. The higher the dose of chemo, the more likely it is to have an impact. If you're having long-term effects from chemo, talk to your doctor to get tips on how to manage them.
Does chemo cause heart problems?
Heart. Certain chemo drugs can damage cells in your heart. Chemotherapy may also increase your odds of having heart problems, such as: Weakening of the heart muscle ( cardiomyopathy) Problems with your heart rhythm ( arrhythmia) Heart attack.
How long does it take for hair to grow back after chemo?
If you lose some or all of your hair after chemo, it will typically start to grow back in a month or two. But it's possible that at first it may not look like it used to. Its texture, shape, and color may be different.
Does chemo make hair grow back?
Its texture, shape, and color may be different. Over time, as the effects of the chemo on your hair follicles wear off, your hair will probably go back to the way it was before treatment. In rare cases, such as after years of strong chemotherapy, your hair follicles could shut down. This can prevent new hair from growing, ...
How to lose weight after chemo?
Work with a dietitian or nutritionist and add strength training exercises to your workout routine to help you shed some pounds. Energy. You probably remember the fatigue that hit you while you were getting chemo. But some people still feel extremely tired after treatment ends.
How long does chemotherapy stay in your system?
In fact, most chemotherapy drugs remain in the body for only a few hours or days. They’re broken down by the kidneys and liver and excreted in the urine, stool, or sweat. A variety of factors can influence how long it takes for the drugs to leave your body.
What are the side effects of chemo?
Remember that even though chemotherapy is rapidly metabolized and eliminated from the body, the effects — and side effects — of the drugs can last a long time, depending on the type of chemotherapy involved. Those side effects normally include : 1 Fatigue 2 Hair loss 3 Easy bruising and bleeding 4 Infection 5 Anemia (low red blood cell counts) 6 Nausea and vomiting 7 Appetite changes 8 Constipation 9 Diarrhea 10 Mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing 11 Nerve and muscle problems such as numbness, tingling, and pain 12 Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change 13 Urine and bladder changes and kidney problems 14 Weight changes 15 Chemo brain, which can affect concentration and focus 16 Mood changes 17 Changes in libido and sexual function 18 Fertility problems
Why is chemotherapy used for cancer?
Chemotherapy is administrated with the intention of eliminating cancer cells so that the infected body can survive and remain in remission. Patients may receive a number of different types of chemotherapy, depending on a variety of factors such as the stage of the cancer and the ultimate goal of treatment.
What is detoxing diet?
Detoxing refers to the process of remoxing “toxins” from the body, either naturally or via diets or supplements, which can be unsafe and falsely advertised. A 2015 review concluded that there was no compelling research to support the use of “detox” diets for weight management or eliminating toxins from the body, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
What are the side effects of cancer?
Childhood cancer survivors experience some of these late side effects: 1 Heart problems, including an increased risk of heart attacks 2 Blood vessel problems, including an increased risk of stroke 3 Lung problems, which can cause difficulty breathing 4 Liver problems 5 Kidney problems 6 Cataracts 7 Bone problems, such as bone thinning (osteoporosis) and joint pain 8 Short stature, caused by slow bone growth 9 Obesity 10 Infertility 11 Memory problems and learning disabilities 12 Vision loss 13 Hearing loss 14 Thyroid problems 15 Increased risk of other types of cancers 16 Nerve damage
Can chemotherapy cause infertility?
Different chemotherapy drugs cause different late effects. So if you didn't take the chemotherapy drugs that can cause infertility, then you aren't believed to be at risk of that particular late effect. Late effects of radiation and surgery will affect only the area of the body exposed to them.
Is cancer over?
Your cancer treatment is over, but the treatments that may have saved your life may also continue to cause side effects . As more people are living longer after cancer treatment, more is becoming known about late side effects of cancer treatment. Find out all you can about late effects of cancer treatment, and use this information ...
Can cancer affect children?
If you underwent cancer treatment as a child, you may be at risk of many of the same late side effects of treatment as people who were adults during their cancer treatments. But you may also be at risk of additional late side effects. That's because children's bones, tissues and organs are growing rapidly during treatment, ...
How to get rid of cancer?
Exercising and eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables can help make you stronger and healthier. Avoiding tobacco, excessive alcohol use and prolonged sun exposure also are very helpful. Long-term side effects of cancer treatment.
How to get stronger and healthier?
Exercising and eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables can help make you stronger and healthier. Avoiding tobacco, excessive alcohol use and prolonged sun exposure also are very helpful. Oct. 06, 2020. Show references. Long-term side effects of cancer treatment.
What to expect after chemo?
Life after chemo may be filled with challenges along the way – you may find yourself having to adjust to a new normal. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to try and maintain a sense of positivity. Your biggest battle has been fought and won – now you get to look forward to life after treatment.
How long does skin change after chemo?
Your skin changes may last for a few months, but could last longer depending on your treatment. Fortunately, many can be easily detected and, eventually, mitigated.
How to know if you have neuropathy after chemo?
Up to 70 percent of cancer survivors may experience some form of peripheral neuropathy after chemotherapy is finished. We’ve written extensively about this topic on another blog post because many people desire to know how to reverse neuropathy from chemo. Typically developing in the feet, hands, and legs, neuropathy is a common condition that comes with some very identifiable symptoms, including: 1 Numbness 2 Shooting or stabbing pain 3 Burning 4 Tingling 5 Muscle weakness 6 Inability to keep your balance 7 Sensitivity to cold or heat
How to tell if you're tired?
If you’re struggling with fatigue, you may be dealing with symptoms such as: 1 Feeling sleepy throughout the day 2 Feeling sudden, extreme tiredness 3 Feeling too weak to stand 4 Irritability 5 Feeling tired even after a good night’s sleep
How many cancer survivors will be there in 2026?
As cancer treatments are further refined and innovated throughout the course of time, more and more people find themselves cancer-free. As of 2016, there were an estimated 15.5 million cancer survivors in the United States – this number is expected to grow to 20.3 million by 2026. Of course, many survivors may be asking themselves ...
How does chemo affect your life?
First and foremost, you may be noticing some physical changes in your life after chemo. Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells that grow and divide quickly – unfortunately, this sometimes results in fast-growing, healthy cells also being affected.
How does chemo work?
Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells that grow and divide quickly – unfortunately, this sometimes results in fast-growing, healthy cells also being affected. It’s important to note that not everyone will experience the same sort of side-effects when it comes to life after chemo.
