All you need to know about long term side effects of cancer treatment

 

Even though the cancer treatment is over but the treatments that might have saved your life may also continue to cause long term side effects of cancer treatment. As more people are living longer after cancer treatment more is becoming known about the negative side effects of the treatment. The late side effects of cancer treatment become apparent after your treatment has ended and cancer survivors might experience the side effects even after years of getting treated.

Bone conditions

The cancer treatment might contribute to bone conditions like osteoporosis or thinning of bones. Wild targeting the cancerous cells the chemotherapy affects the normal healthy cells including those in the bones and marrow. This is likely to lead to broken bones while causing dietary issues. Other therapies might also affect the bones and bone density including hormonal therapies. If someone requires hormone therapy as a part of the cancer treatment then they are likely to go through bone density changes.

Heart related conditions

Chemotherapy or other cancer treatments leads to hot side effects for people like irregular heartbeat heart disease high blood pressure valvular disease stroke etc. Heart side effects are likely to be more pronounced if a person needs other therapies in the same arena like chest radiation therapy for lung cancer.

Lung conditions

Chemotherapy might cause lung conditions like decreased lung capacity and an increase in scar tissue known as pulmonary fibrosis. Lung issues may be more likely with specific drugs or when treatment targets the long area like the chest radiation therapy for lung cancer.

Fatigue

Fatigue generally occurs with chemotherapy but it also might linger after the treatment. If long term fatigue is ongoing after chemotherapy then you should connect with your doctor to explore the possible reasons or options for managing these symptoms.

Endocrine symptoms

Cancer treatments are likely to affect the endocrine symptoms which might cause a person to have symptoms of menopause like changes in sexual desire hot flashes and issues with bladder control. These symptoms might go away after the cancer treatment but in younger female menstrual periods may come back with time. For others menopause might be permanent. Males might also experience symptoms similar to menopause from cancer treatment for their prostate testicles.