side effects when on cancer treatment

What are the main side effects of cancer treatment?

Some of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment include pain and fatigue, anemia, mouth problems, nausea/weight change/dietary issues, and hair, skin and nail problems. Pain. The term “pain” describes a broad category of types of symptoms and it is common to all cancers and cancer treatments.

What 3 side effects a person can have with chemotherapy treatments?

Here's a list of many of the common side effects, but it's unlikely you'll have all of these.Tiredness. Tiredness (fatigue) is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. ... Feeling and being sick. ... Hair loss. ... Infections. ... Anaemia. ... Bruising and bleeding. ... Sore mouth. ... Loss of appetite.More items...

How long do cancer treatment side effects last?

These symptoms usually get better with a lower chemotherapy dose or after treatment. It can take 6 to 12 months for symptoms to get better after chemotherapy ends. Some side effects can be permanent. Learn more about managing nervous system side effects.

What are some of the most common long term side effects of cancer and cancer treatment that affect cancer survivors?

Fatigue is a constant feeling of physical, emotional, or mental tiredness. It is the most common side effect of cancer treatment. Some cancer survivors have fatigue for months or even years after finishing treatment.

What is the most serious side effect of chemotherapy?

Intense chills. Pain or soreness at the chemo injection site or catheter site. Unusual pain, including intense headaches. Shortness of breath or trouble breathing (If you're having trouble breathing call 911 first.)

Do the side effects of chemo get worse with each treatment?

The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.

What are the signs that chemo is working?

Complete response - all of the cancer or tumor disappears; there is no evidence of disease. A tumor marker (if applicable) may fall within the normal range. Partial response - the cancer has shrunk by a percentage but disease remains. A tumor marker (if applicable) may have fallen but evidence of disease remains.

How many days after chemo do you feel better?

Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.

Can cancer spread while on chemo?

While chemotherapy is one of the oldest and most successful ways of treating cancer, it doesn't always work. So, yes, cancer can spread during chemotherapy. Spreading could mean the tumor keeps growing, or that the original tumor shrinks, but cancer metastasizes, forming tumors in other areas of the body.

What happens after cancer treatment is over?

When treatment ends, you may expect life to return to the way it was before you were diagnosed with cancer. But it can take time to recover. You may have permanent scars on your body, or you may not be able to do some things you once did easily. Or you may even have emotional scars from going through so much.

How does cancer affect you physically?

Cancer can upset the normal chemical balance in your body and increase your risk of serious complications. Signs and symptoms of chemical imbalances might include excessive thirst, frequent urination, constipation and confusion. Brain and nervous system problems.

What are long term side effects of cancer?

These include: Hearing loss from high doses of chemotherapy, especially drugs like cisplatin (multiple brand names) Increased risk of stroke from high doses of radiation to the brain. Nervous system side effects, including damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, called peripheral neuropathy.

How to reduce the chance of infection during chemo?

Washing your hands often will lower your chance of getting an infection during chemotherapy. Talk with your doctor about other ways to lower your risk of getting an infection. You should call your doctor right away if you notice any signs of an infection, especially a fever.

What happens if you have a lymph node removed?

If you have lymph nodes removed during surgery, or if radiation treatment damages a lymph node or vessel, the lymph fluid may not be able to drain properly. The fluid may build up under your skin and cause part of your body to swell . This condition is called lymphedema. Learn more about lymphedema.

Can cancer cause blood clots?

Cancer Pain. Blood Clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Other Side Effects. Cancer treatments may have many side effects. A side effect occurs when treatment damages healthy cells. Side effects can be different for each person, and for different medicines and kinds of treatment. If you think you’re experiencing any side effects, talk to your medical team.

Can cancer cause tiredness?

Cancer treatments can cause many other side effects, including tiredness, trouble eating, and depression. The National Cancer Institute#N#external icon#N#and the American Cancer Society#N#external icon#N#describe many of these problems and offer tips for preventing or coping with them.

Can cancer make you sick?

Cancer treatments can make you feel sick to your stomach, and to vomit. Sometimes, cancer patients feel sick just from thinking about cancer treatment. Fortunately, medicines can help control nausea and make you feel better. Tell your doctor when you feel sick, so he or she can find the medicine that works best for you.

Does a cooling cap help with chemotherapy?

may help you keep more of your hair . A cooling cap fits tightly on your head and keeps your scalp cold before, during, and after your chemotherapy treatment. Studies have found that how well a cooling cap works depends on the kind of chemotherapy you receive.

Can cancer drugs make you forget things?

The drugs used to treat cancer can cause some people to have trouble concentrating or remembering things. This is often called “chemo brain,”#N#external icon#N#and it can make it hard for cancer patients to do their jobs or everyday tasks.

What are the symptoms of cancer?

Anemia develops when there aren’t sufficient red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. This can cause dizziness, weakness, faintness and racing of the heart.

How long does it take for a cancer patient to regrowth after radiation?

Regrowth can begin while treatment is still happening, or within one to three months after it is done. Skin-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy can include dryness, itchiness, redness and swelling. You should also be careful in the sun while receiving cancer treatment because you may be more susceptible to sunburn.

What are the side effects of cancer treatment?

What are the most common side effects of cancer treatments? Some of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment include pain and fatigue, anemia, mouth problems, nausea/weight change/dietary issues, and hair, skin and nail problems. Pain.

What is the treatment for cancer?

Treatment options include pain medication and other therapies like acupuncture, massage therapy and physical therapy. Fatigue. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a severe form of fatigue often described by people with cancer as an overwhelming tiredness, exhaustion and weakness that doesn’t go away with sleep and rest.

What are the options for a syringe?

If, however, the treatments are working well, your doctor may suggest various treatments to manage your side effects, such as the following: For pain: Options include pain medications, physical activity and acupuncture.

How many people will have cancer by 2026?

That number is expected to increase to more than 20 million by 2026.

How long do side effects of cancer last?

But some people experience severe side effects that last for months or even years after treatment is completed. If you are experiencing any side effects from your cancer treatment, it’s important to discuss them with your doctor. Treatment of side effects is an important part of cancer care and your quality of life.

How does radiation affect food?

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery may affect how a person digests food. Surgery or radiation therapy to the abdominal area can cause tissue scarring, long-term pain, and intestinal problems. Some survivors may have chronic diarrhea that reduces the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

What is the condition that causes shortness of breath, dizziness, and swollen hands and feet?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is weakening of the heart muscle. Symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, and swollen hands or feet. Coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease. It is more common in those who had high doses of radiation therapy to the chest.

What are the problems with the endocrine system?

This system includes the glands and other organs that make hormones and make eggs or sperm. Cancer survivors at risk for hormone changes from treatment need regular blood tests to measure hormone levels. Menopause.

What are the side effects of radiation?

Increased risk of stroke from high doses of radiation to the brain. Nervous system side effects, including damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, called peripheral neuropathy. Cancer survivors should have regular physical examinations and hearing tests after treatment to check for these effects.

What medicine did you receive for Hodgkin lymphoma?

Are 65 and older. Received higher doses of chemotherapy. Received certain medicines, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin, Ogivri) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Doxil) Below is a list of common heart conditions.

What are the side effects of cancer treatment?

Talk with your doctor about any new symptoms or side effects that you experience. Fatigue. Fatigue is a constant feeling of physical, emotional, or mental tiredness. It is the most common side effect of cancer treatment. Some cancer survivors have fatigue for months or even years after finishing treatment.

How long after cancer treatment do side effects occur?

Many people who have had cancer treatment have a risk of developing long-term side effects. These side effects can happen months or years after treatment. Evaluating and treating late effects is an important part of cancer survivorship care.

Coping and Living Well During Cancer Treatment

Learn about ways to help you cope with side effects and other issues that come up during treatment.

Benefits of Good Nutrition When You Have Cancer

Nutrition is an important thing to consider when you're getting cancer treatment. Learn more about how eating healthy foods can help you feel better and stay stronger during and after treatment.

Second Cancers

Some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy may increase a person's risk of developing a different types of cancer later in life. Here we discuss the risk of second cancers that may be linked to past cancer treatment.

Personal Health Manager

It can be hard to keep track of all the information that you get about your diagnosis and treatment. But keeping this information organized can help you feel less stressed and more prepared to talk with your doctor. The American Cancer Society Personal Health Manager can help.

How long do side effects of chemo last?

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.

Can chemo drugs cause side effects?

These interactions may make side effects worse and affect how well chemo drugs work.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Here are some of the more common side effects caused by chemotherapy: Fatigue. Hair loss. Easy bruising and bleeding.

Can you take vitamins for chemo?

But some vitamins might make chemo less effective. More research is needed, but until more is known about the effects of vitamins on chemo, keep these points in mind: If your doctor has not told you to take vitamins, it’s best not to take any.

Can chemo cause long term side effects?

Some chemo drugs cause long-term side effects, like heart or nerve damage or fertility problems. Still, many people have no long-term problems from chemo. Ask your doctor if the chemo drugs you’re getting have long-term effects. While side effects can be unpleasant, they must be weighed against the need to kill the cancer cells.

Can you give chemo to cancer patients?

Doctors try to give chemo at levels high enough to treat cancer, while keeping side effects at a minimum. They also try to avoid using multiple drugs that have similar side effects.

Can chemo kill your body?

Some chemo drugs can damage cells in the heart, kidneys, bladder, lungs, and nervous system. Sometimes, you can take medicines with the chemo to help protect your body’s normal cells. There are also treatments to help relieve side effects. Doctors try to give chemo at levels high enough to treat cancer, while keeping side effects at a minimum.

Preparing for and Getting Treatment

If you or someone you care for is facing treatment for a new cancer diagnosis or cancer that has come back, you probably have lots of questions that need answered. Learn about how to approach making decisions about treatment, and what to ask your health care team.

Learn about Treatments

Planning cancer treatment can take time. Find out what you need to know about the most common types of cancer treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Learn how they work and what to expect if they are part of your treatment plan.

Dealing with Side Effects

Get information about the physical side effects that can be caused by different cancer treatments and what you can do to manage them.

More Resources and Information

Find your cancer type for more specific information on how a certain type of cancer is treated, or see the latest news in cancer treatment.

Types of late effects

Nearly any cancer treatment can cause late effects. And different treatments can cause different late effects. Below is a list of the more common late effects. Talk with your doctor about any concerns you have about a specific late effect.

Questions to ask the health care team

Learn as much as you can about the potential long-term effects of your cancer treatment from your health care team. You may want to schedule a special appointment to review your treatment summary. This document should include information about your cancer, treatment, and follow-up care.

What are troponin biomarkers?

The workshop included discussions of biomarkers of cardiac or cardiovascular damage, such as troponin, which is a complex of proteins that is released when heart muscle is damaged . These biomarkers were developed for patients with heart disease rather than for patients with cancer who may experience treatment-induced cardiac side effects.

What are some examples of cardiac side effects?

One Example: Cardiac Side Effects and Breast Cancer. Over the past decade, breast cancer has been a focus of research on cardiac side effects, in part because certain treatments for the disease are known to cause these side effects. Based on this evidence, the American Heart Association recently issued a rare scientific statement on cardiovascular ...

Why is more research needed?

More research is also needed to help inform clinical decisions about cancer treatments and cardiac side effects . “Oncologists and cardiologists want to be able to implement evidence-based guidelines for patient care, but more studies are needed,” said Dr. Minasian.

What are the side effects of cancer treatment?

Certain cancer treatments can damage the heart and the cardiovascular system. These side effects, including high blood ...

What fish are used to study doxorubicin?

Researchers are using zebrafish to study how the cancer drug doxorubicin affects the heart. Normal fish (left) and a fish that developed cardiomyopathy after treatment with doxorubicin (right). Credit: Dr. Aarti Asnani, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

What is the name of the condition in which a patient develops inflammation of the heart muscle?

A recent study showed that a small percentage of patients who receive immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitor develop inflammation of the heart muscle known as myocarditis. In this study, about half of the patients who developed severe myocarditis died of it.

Who is Aarti Asnani?

Aarti Asnani, M.D., a cardiologist in the Cardio-Oncology Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said in an interview, “What we have now are broad and relatively nonspecific biomarkers of cardiac injury.”