Chemotherapy treatment for cancer can cause a variety of side effects that involve many different systems of the body. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause problems with the brain and the other parts of the nervous system. In children, chemotherapy can affect the development of the brain, which can persist after treatment ends, according to the American Cancer Society. Neurotoxicity after chemotherapy is a major consideration and can be a limitation to therapy for patients with cancer.
Hearing Problems
According to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center website, chemotherapy for cancer can cause problems with hearing. Certain medications, like ifosfamide and cisplatin, can cause issues such as hearing loss, ringing in the ears or decreased hearing acuity--meaning that normal sounds are not loud enough to hear. For children, this may present as an inability of the child to follow instructions or poor performance in school.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Other chemotherapy drugs can cause numbness, tingling or pain in the arms or legs of a patient. According to Jerzy Hildebrand in a 2006 article in the "Current Opinion in Oncology" journal, medications like cisplatin, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel and docetaxel are commonly associated with this condition. Development of peripheral neuropathy depends on the amount of medication and the amount of time between doses. Patients who already have problems with neuropathy are at higher risk for having more issues. In some patients, the neuropathy continues to progress after the chemotherapy treatments end.
Impaired Brain Function--Chemo Brain
Impaired brain function after chemotherapy is commonly called chemo brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. This describes the memory, thinking and concentration problems that occur in patients who have had chemotherapy. An article by Beverly Burmeier, on the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center website, notes that the actual cause for chemo brain is not fully understood. Patients may need to develop new behaviors to adapt to any issues caused by the impaired brain function.
Learning Disabilities in Children
Children who receive chemotherapy for cancer may have learning disabilities in the future. According to the American Cancer Society, the age of the child, the type of drugs given and whether radiation therapy was given are all factors in the occurrence of developmental delays in children. Children who received both chemotherapy to the brain and spinal cord and radiation are at the highest risk for development of learning disabilities. These include a drop in IQ, problems with concentration and poor hand-eye coordination.
References
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Long Term Effects of Chemotherapy
- American Cancer Society: Long-term Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- University of Florida Shands Cancer Center: Chemo Brain
- "Current Opinion in Oncology"; Neurological Complications of Cancer Chemotherapy; Jerzy Hildebrand; 2006
- American Cancer Society: Childhood Cancer: Late Effects of Cancer Treatment
