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Cancer survivors: Managing late effects of cancer treatment
Learn about late and long-term effects of cancer treatment so that you can take more control of your health as a cancer survivor.
By Mayo Clinic staffYour cancer treatment is over, but your risk of side effects goes on. You might be surprised to know that side effects can continue after your cancer treatment or even develop several years later. Some cancer survivors wonder why they weren't told about the possibility of late effects before they began treatment.
The fact is that not much is known about late side effects of cancer treatment. While the lack of information can be frustrating for cancer survivors, don't feel completely helpless. Find out all you can about late effects of cancer treatment and use this information to take control of your health.
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 effects of cancer treatment a few months after treatment is completed or years later.
In contrast with late effects, side effects that start during your cancer treatment and linger for months or years after are called long-term side effects. Long-term side effects usually are different from late side effects. For example, nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) is common during some types of chemotherapy and may begin during treatment and linger for months or even years after cancer treatment is completed. Most long-term effects lessen or completely resolve with time.
What cancer treatments cause late effects?
Late effects of cancer treatment can come from any of the three main types of cancer treatment: chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. As newer types of cancer treatment are developed, doctors may find that these treatments also cause late effects in cancer survivors.
| Treatment | Long-term side effects | Late side effects |
|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy | Fatigue Menopausal symptoms Neuropathy Chemobrain Heart failure Kidney failure Infertility Liver problems |
Cataracts Infertility Liver problems Lung disease Osteoporosis Reduced lung capacity Second primary cancers |
| Radiation therapy | Fatigue Skin sensitivity |
Cataracts Cavities and tooth decay Heart problems Hypothyroidism Infertility Lung disease Intestinal problems Memory problems Second primary cancers |
| Surgery | Scars Chronic pain |
Lymphedema |
Keep in mind that not everyone who has cancer treatment gets each of the long-term or late side effects, and some people might not experience any aftereffects of treatment. 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. Radiation and surgery will only affect the area of the body they're used to treat. So, for example, if you had radiation to a part of your body other than your head or neck, then you won't be at risk of cavities and tooth decay as a result of your radiation therapy.
Next page(1 of 2)
- Aftereffects of cancer treatment. Lance Armstrong Foundation. http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.khLXK1PxHmF/b.2660641/k.D76D/Physical_Effects_Aftereffects_of_Cancer_Treatment.htm. Accessed Aug. 8, 2009.
- Late effects of treatment for childhood cancer (PDQ) patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lateeffects/patient/allpages/print. Accessed Aug. 8, 2009.
