Many side effects go away fairly quickly, but some might take months or even years to go away completely. These are called late effects. Sometimes the side effects can last a lifetime, such as when chemo causes long-term damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or reproductive organs.
Why does chemo make you sick?
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.
What are the long term effects of chemotherapy?
Oct 06, 2020 · As newer types of cancer treatment are developed, such as immunotherapy, doctors may find that these treatments also cause late effects in cancer survivors. Treatment. Late effects. Chemotherapy. Dental problems. Early menopause. Hearing loss. Heart problems. Increased risk of other cancers.
How long do symptoms last after chemo session?
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 does chemotherapy affect your body after treatment?
Sep 21, 2021 · Long-term side effects of chemotherapy may occur months or years after treatment. Long-term side effects, also called late effects, can vary depending on the person and treatment. There is no exact...
How long after chemo does your body get back to normal?
Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.Feb 7, 2022
How long do chemo side effects last after first treatment?
Nausea and vomiting can start within the first few hours after chemotherapy drugs are given and usually last about 24 hours. However, nausea and vomiting may start more than 24 hours after treatment and last several days (called delayed nausea and vomiting).
What is the most common side effect of chemotherapy?
Tiredness (fatigue) is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. Many people having treatment feel tired a lot of the time or get tired very easily doing everyday tasks.
Do chemo side effects get worse with each treatment?
Most types of pain related to chemotherapy get better or go away between treatments. However, nerve damage often gets worse with each dose. Sometimes the drug causing the nerve damage has to be stopped. It can take months or years for nerve damage from chemotherapy to improve or go away.
What Are Late Effects of Cancer Treatment?
Late effects are side effects of cancer treatment that become apparent after your treatment has ended. Cancer survivors might experience late effec...
What Cancer Treatments Cause Late Effects?
Late effects of cancer treatment can come from any of the main types of cancer treatment: chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation, surgery, target...
What Late Effects Might People Who Were Treated For Childhood Cancers Experience?
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 durin...
What Signs and Symptoms Might Signal That You're Experiencing Late Effects of Cancer Treatment?
Talk to your doctor about the late effects of your particular treatment. In some cases, your doctor will know what effects are at risk to you. But...
What Can You Do to Prevent Late Effects of Cancer Treatment?
It isn't clear that late effects are preventable or why some people might experience late effects while others don't. While this can be frustrating...
What to do if you have cancer and no longer seeing a doctor?
If you were treated for cancer many years ago or are no longer seeing a cancer specialist for checkups, talk to your primary care doctor about late effects . If you think you might be experiencing late effects or your doctor isn't sure what late effects to watch for, ask for a referral to a cancer specialist.
What are the side effects of cancer treatment?
Childhood cancer survivors experience some of these late side effects: Heart problems, including an increased risk of heart attacks. Blood vessel problems, including an increased risk of stroke.
What happens if you have cancer years ago?
Increased risk of other types of cancers. Nerve damage. If you were treated for cancer many years ago, you may assume any health problems you have are related to aging, not past cancer treatments. Tell your doctor what you know about your childhood cancer treatments.
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.
Is cancer treatment over?
Learn about late and long-term effects of cancer treatment so that you can take more control of your health as a cancer survivor. 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 ...
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, ...
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.
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 are the effects of chemotherapy on the bones?
Skeletal Effects. 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.
What is the best treatment for lung cancer?
Medications used to treat lung cancer that may cause secondary cancer (though less likely) include Vepeid (etoposide) and Platinol (cisplatin). The risk of a secondary cancer developing is higher in people who develop cancer at a younger age and with cancers that have, in general, a high survival rate.
Does chemo cause cardiac problems?
Cardiac Concerns. 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 ...
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.
Can chemotherapy cause infertility?
Infertility following treatment varies with the dose and type of chemotherapy medications used and doesn’t affect everyone.
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.
Bone conditions
Chemotherapy drugs may contribute to bone conditions, including osteoporosis, a thinning of the bones.
Heart-related conditions
Chemotherapy may cause late side effects in the heart for some people, such as:
Cognitive problems
A group of cognitive issues, sometimes known as “chemo brain,” may occur as a late side effect of chemotherapy in some people. Cognitive issues may include problems with memory, concentration, or focus.
Mental health conditions
Mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and issues with body image, are common in cancer survivors. Research from 2018 notes that up to 20% of people with cancer experience depression, four times as common as the general population.
Hair loss
Hair loss is common with chemotherapy treatment. Research from 2017 notes that up to 65% of people on chemotherapy experience hair loss. This percentage may also increase depending on the drug.
Fatigue
Fatigue occurs with chemotherapy treatment but may also linger after treatment. If long-term fatigue is ongoing after chemotherapy, a person should talk to a doctor to explore possible reasons or options for managing symptoms.
Endocrine symptoms
Cancer treatments that affect the endocrine system may cause a person to have symptoms of menopause, such as:
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
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.
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.
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.
How does chemo affect your brain?
Chemo brain, which can affect concentration and focus. Mood changes. Changes in libido and sexual function. Fertility problems. Your doctor can give you a range of how long any side effects are likely to last.
What are the systems that help the body clear waste?
Doctors and scientists say that the body already has specific systems in place (gut, liver, kidneys, and skin, to name a few) to efficiently clear toxins and waste. Eating healthy foods (such as vegetables) and drinking a lot of water helps the body break down and remove them.
Can chemotherapy pills slow down the removal of drugs?
Damage to an organ can slow down the process of drug removal. Chemotherapy pills. 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 :
What is the life after chemo?
Life 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 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 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 long does it take for cancer to return to normal?
In most cases though, your energy levels should return to normal within six months of completing treatment .
Is Camwell hand to heal cream toxic?
CamWell Hand to Heal Cream is the perfect solution for skin conditions such as Hand Foot syndrome you may be coping with – users have even said that it’s helped calm their symptoms of peripheral neuropathy! Every bottle of Hand to Heal Cream is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and contains no harsh chemicals.
