The effects of cancer do not always end when treatment is over and remission is achieved. Sometimes treatment side effects can be long-lasting, both physically and emotionally. Depending on the kind of cancer treated and the treatments that were used, the effects may vary, and nearly all are highly manageable. Since there are so many variations of treatment, and everyone responds to treatment differently, talk to your health care team about all the possible side effects of your cancer before you start treatment.
Fatigue
According to the American Cancer Society, fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment. Between 70 and 100 percent of people being treated for cancer experience fatigue, and 30 to 50 percent of cancer survivors report that their fatigue lasts after treatment has ended; sometimes for months or years (cancer.org). Cancer-related fatigue is different from general fatigue; rest does not alleviate it, and it can seriously interfere with daily functioning (cancer.org). Talk to your treatment team if you are experiencing fatigue to see if there are specific variables that are contributing to the fatigue and what can be done to help minimize it.
Fertility
Cancer and its treatment may also affect fertility in both men and women. Surgery that removes the uterus or ovaries may render a woman unable to have biological children, or treatments like chemotherapy or radiation may also impair fertility. Fertility after chemotherapy depends on the drugs that are used, the dosage and the age of the woman. Women who are closer to menopause at the time of treatment are more likely to go into early menopause than younger women (cancer.org). For boys and men, radiation to the genital area or chemotherapy may impair fertility. Men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer may have their testicles removed, or undergo hormone therapy, both of which negatively affect fertility (cancer.org). Before starting treatment, if you are concerned about your fertility, talk to your doctor about options to preserve your fertility, or other avenues you can pursue toward parenthood.
The Challenge of Survivorship
After cancer treatment is over, many people may assume life picks up where it left off before the diagnosis, but for cancer survivors, it may be very different. Many emotions may be present, like apprehension about no longer having regular treatments, or the fear of the cancer returning (cancer.org). Check-ups with your oncologist and anniversaries of the diagnosis may bring anxiety and sadness, and you may feel loneliness (cancer.org). Friends may not know what to say or how to act around you, and that can be frustrating. If you experience difficulties, talk to your health care team or join a support group of cancer survivors. You are not alone; the American Cancer Society estimates that 11 million Americans alive today are cancer survivors, so many people have been where you may be.
