Physicians use chemotherapy to treat a variety of cancers. Short-term side effects typically end when the chemotherapy treatments stop, but long-term effects can impact the patient's life for the foreseeable future--including the ability to have children. For patients who undergo chemotherapy, understanding the potential side effects--especially the long-term side effects--allows patients to make informed decisions and plans for the future.
Heart Problems
Certain chemotherapy medications--including anthracyclines like adriamycin or cyclophosphamide--can damage the heart and lead to cardiac complications by damaging the heart muscle, according to the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center. Some of the heart damage may be mild and only detectable by cardiac testing. Other changes may be severe and could cause congestive heart failure or even require a heart transplant.
Infertility
Many different types of chemotherapy, including cyclophosphamide, adriamycin or vinblastine, can affect the reproductive system of both men and women, according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Women may experience irregularity of menstrual periods, premature menopause or infertility. In men, testosterone production or infertility may decrease. Before beginning chemotherapy, patients should discuss future childbearing plans and other issues with the doctor and consider banking sperm or preserving eggs.
Nervous System Problems
Chemotherapy medications such as cisplatin or ifosfamide may cause hearing problems such as ringing in the ears or tinnitus or hearing loss, according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Patients may also develop peripheral neuropathy--pain or tingling of the extremities--after certain chemotherapy drugs like taxotere, platinum or vincristine.
Secondary Cancers
After treatment with some chemotherapy drugs like mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide or busulfan, some patients may develop a secondary cancer. The most common cancers associated with chemotherapy are acute myelogenous leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia, according to the American Cancer Society. These cancers tend to develop two to 10 years after the original therapy. The risk for developing a secondary cancer increases with longer treatment times and high dosages.
Developmental Problems in Children
According to the American Cancer Society, about 80 percent of children who are treated for cancer survive five years or more. But the chemotherapy that extends the life of these patients can impact different parts of the body; chemotherapy kills fast-growing cells and children are growing rapidly. For example, chemotherapy given in the spinal column can cause learning disabilities. Growth and development problems can occur after high-dose therapy. Chemotherapy may also affect ovarian function and sperm production in children and young adults. Children may have issues with reduced fertility in the future, according to the American Cancer Society.
References
- American Cancer Society: Long-Term Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- American Cancer Society: Childhood Cancer: Late Effects of Cancer Treatment
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center : Long Term Effects of Chemotherapy
- University of Florida Shands Cancer Center: Cardiac Toxicity
- American Cancer Society:Treatments Linked to the Development of Second Cancers
