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.
In general, chemotherapy tends to cause more long-term side effects in cancer survivors, though it can cause serious late effects. Radiation usually causes late effects in cancer survivors, though it can also cause long-term effects. If you have a combination of treatments, you're more likely to experience late effects.
| 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 hearing loss, 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 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 loss in the future.
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. This can be frustrating and is only made worse by the fact that relatively little is known about late effects of cancer treatment. Don't feel hopeless. Take steps to make your body strong and healthy, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. This will help you deal better with late effects, should they develop.