|
Long Term Side Effects of Chemotherapy |
Some chemotherapy regimens cause short and long terms side effects. The specific side effects depend upon the individual and the drugs prescribed. There are hundreds of chemotherapy drugs, so side effects may vary greatly. In reality, most drugs cause only short term side effects and complete recovery is possible.
Nonetheless, some chemotherapy side effects can affect your body for years to come – below is a short list of possible long-term side effects of chemotherapy:
- Chemotherapy drugs can reduce your body’s immune response and make it more susceptible to infection. In general, this effect is short term but it can continue for months, years or indefinitely.
- Chemotherapy can cause heart and lung problems or it can do damage to other vital organs. This is usually not a likely side effect but and the risks to certain organs posed by specific drugs are well documented so your doctor should be able to provide you with lots of useful information.
- A very small number of cancer drugs can actually put you at risk for a “second cancer.” This risk is low, limited and well-studied so it is best to ask your doctor about this possibility.
|
