Cancer survivors: delayed effects of cancer treatment
Cancer survivors: delayed effects of cancer treatment
Learn about the delayed and long-term effects of cancer treatment so you can take care of your health as a cancer survivor.
The cancer treatment is over, but the effects of treatment may continue. Treatments that may have contributed to saving your life may also lead to further side effects.
The longerpeople live after treatment, the more we learn about the delay ed side effects.
Find out everything you can about the delayed effects of cancer treatment. Take advantage of this information to help you manage your health.
What are the delayed side effects of cancer treatment?
Delayed effects are side effects of cancer treatment that appear after the termination of treatment. Cancer survivors may experience long-term side effects from treatment.
What cancer treatments cause delayed effects?
The effects of late cancer treatment may be caused by any type of basic treatment. They include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiotherapy, surgical therapy, target therapy, and immunotherapy. Whenever more recent cancer treatments are available, delayed effects are also detected.
It is not necessarily necessary for everyone who has undergone cancer treatment to face all the delayed effects. Some patients may have no delayed effects at all.
Delayed effects vary according to the chemotherapy drugs. If you do not take chemotherapy drugs that may cause infertility, you are not expected to be susceptible to this delayed effect.
The delayed effects of radiotherapy and surgery also affect only the area of the body that has been exposed to them. If the patient undergoes radiotherapy in any part of the body other than the head and neck, he or she will not be at risk of tooth cavities and decay.
What are the delayed side effects of childhood cancer treatment?
People who have undergone childhood cancer treatment are at risk for several delayed side effects that can occur in adults as a result of cancer treatment.
Survivors of childhood cancer may be at risk of additional delayed side effects. This is because children's bones, tissues, and organs grow rapidly. Cancer treatment can affect this important stage of growth.
The delayed side effects of childhood cancer survivors depend on the type of cancer and its treatment. The age at which treatment has been administered may identify potential delayed side effects if any.
Some of these problems become more common with age. A person who has undergone cancer treatment for several years may not realize that these problems are linked to cancer treatment in the past. So be careful to tell the doctor about any cancer treatments you have undergone since childhood.
If your parents or a loved one keeps records of your treatment, submit them to the doctor. He kept records showing the type of chemotherapy and radiation she had undergone. and keep it with you to share with other doctors you may follow in the future.
What symptoms can indicate that you have delayed side effects from cancer treatment?
Talk to the doctor about the delayed side effects of the treatment you are undergoing. Some of the delayed effects of some treatments are known. The doctor may know what effects should be monitored. But the delayed effects of many new treatments are still unknown.
A doctor may be able to help you understand the symptoms that indicate that you have delayed effects from cancer treatment. It may also examine you to detect delayed effects of treatment when you go to follow-up appointments after the treatment is completed.
Tell the doctor any symptoms that are of concern to you. It is best to examine these symptoms so that you do not remain concerned and think about the cause of the problem.
If you have undergone cancer treatment for many years or no longer visit a cancer therapist, talk to your usual doctor about the delayed effects. If you think you have delayed side effects or the doctor is unsure about any delayed effects that should be monitored, request a referral to a cancer therapist.
What can you do to prevent the delayed effects of cancer treatment?
It is not clear whether the delayed effects can be prevented or why some people are more likely to contract them than others. Although this can be frustrating, you can take steps to adapt if you are hit by delayed effects. Make your body feel stronger and healthier by exercising, eating healthy food, and eating lots of fruit and vegetables. Avoid smoking tobacco. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Protect your skin from the sun.
