Aftereffects of Cancer Treatment

All cancer survivors may not be familiar with the term aftereffects. Aftereffects are the physical, emotional or practical issues that continue after treatment or begin later in life. Health care providers may be so focused on helping patients get through their cancer treatment that they don't discuss what life may be like after treatment ends. But by learning about aftereffects, you can take steps improving your quality of life after cancer.

Below is a brief explanation of aftereffects. For more information, talk to your doctor and review the references listed at the bottom of this article_temp.

Physical aftereffects

Many survivors have undergone some form of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Each of these treatments can cause different physical aftereffects.

Examples of physical aftereffects include:

• Some chemotherapy drugs cause long term fatigue and nerve damage.
  
• Radiation to the chest can cause skin sensitivity and heart problems.
  
• Surgery to remove lymph nodes can cause scaring and lymphedema.
  

It can be frustrating to learn that your cancer treatments can cause other physical problems. Just because a certain treatment puts you at risk for a physical aftereffect doesn't mean that you will experience it. Everyone's body handles treatment differently. Learn what physical aftereffects your treatment may cause and if anything can be done to prevent them. Also, recognizing the symptoms of physical aftereffects and being diagnosed early may help you better manage them.

Emotional aftereffects

Some survivors are surprised that they continue to feel certain emotions long after treatment ends. Most survivors expect to feel happy and relieved, but they can also feel other emotions that can be overwhelming at times. Emotions that continue or develop after treatment are called emotional after- effects.

Examples of emotional aftereffects include:

• Anxiety before each follow-up appointment.
  
• Anger that you still feel tired or fatigued.
  
• Frustration that people can't understand what you went through.
  

You may be able to handle these emotions by talking with friends, joining a support group or writing your emotions down in a journal. If your emotions get too overwhelming or interfere with daily activities, talk to your health care professional. Emotional aftereffects can affect your overall health and well being and deserve proper attention.

Practical aftereffects

During your treatment, you probably dealt with practical stresses that you hoped would end once you finished treatment. Some survivors find that these stresses continue and new stresses develop later on that are related to their cancer treatment. The day to day stresses that affect the lives of cancer survivors are called practical aftereffects.

Examples of practical aftereffects include:

• Paying off your medical bills.
  
• Returning to work or finding a new job.
  
• Finding time in your day to cope with physical or emotional aftereffects.
  

Fortunately, there are many resources available to help survivors deal with practical aftereffects. Contact LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare (866.467.7205) to speak to a social worker who can help you access resources to help with physical, emotional and practical aftereffects.

What can survivors do to prevent or manage their aftereffects?

Talk to your doctor about the aftereffects that you might experience based on the treatment you received. Find information about aftereffects from credible sources like National Cancer Institute, Lance Armstrong Foundation and American Cancer Society. It is important to be aware of aftereffects and their symptoms.

When found early, many aftereffects can be successfully diagnosed and treated. Some can even be avoided by having regular follow-up appointments with your doctor and maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Aftereffects can be minor or have a huge effect on your life after cancer. You have fought hard to survive cancer, and you deserve to have the opportunity to make the most of your life after cancer. Take control by learning about the different aftereffects of your cancer and its treatment and working with health care professionals to prevent or better manage aftereffects in your life.

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