Chemotherapy, often referred to simply as chemo, is the treatment of cancer using drugs that halt the cell cycle and stop the growth of rapidly dividing cells. Chemo is a common treatment for cancer, but it comes with many side effects. Some of these side effects may continue for months or years into the future while others do not show up until later in life.
Types
According to MayoClinic.com, side effects that begin during the course of chemotherapy treatment and continue after treatment has ended are typically referred to as long-term side effects. On the other hand, side effects that do not appear until later in life but were caused by the treatment are termed late side effects in the medical community, although many individuals continue to group them with long-term side effects.
Cause
Long-terms side effects occur in chemotherapy patients because the chemotherapy drugs destroy cancer cells as well as rapidly growing healthy tissues. This can include cells within the bone marrow, digestive tract, reproductive system and nervous system. Because these cells continue to grow after they have been damaged by chemotherapy, effects from the medicines given may continue, or may not show up for long periods of time after treatment.
Effects
One common long-term effect caused by chemo that begins during treatment and continues afterward is peripheral neuropathy, the loss of sensation in peripheral nerves of the body, such as those in the hands and feet. Other common long-term effects include fatigue, heart problems and kidney problems. True long term effects and late effects also include cognitive problems, learning disabilities, vision problems, liver disease, infertility and secondary cancers.
Specificity
MayoClinic.com maintains that the specific long-term side effects of chemotherapy are limited to the particular drugs taken and not all chemo medications produce the same side effects. Some chemotherapy drugs are known to induce infertility, while others may not have this particular side effect but may put the patient at risk for future liver disease. The severity and occurrence of particular side effects also depends on a person's individual physiology, so not everyone will have the same side effects from a given drug.
Considerations
While long-term side effects are a possibility when undergoing chemotherapy, they are rare, according to Chemocare.com. Also, most side effects from chemotherapy are temporary, with even long-term effects going away eventually. Immediate treatment for the cancer should be the primary concern of patients considering chemotherapy. A doctor can help a patient weigh the benefits and risks of any particular cancer treatment.
