Chemotherapy Treatment Side Effects

Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, control their growth or relieve disease-related symptoms. Cancer cells often grow quickly, and chemotherapy drugs can kill fast-growing cells. However, these drugs can also affect normal, healthy cells.

Side effects can occur when healthy cells are damaged during treatment. Healthy cells that are more likely to be affected by chemotherapy include:

• Hair follicles
• Cells in the digestive system, mouth and reproductive system
• Cells that form blood in your bone marrow

Patients experiencing chemotherapy side effects should talk to their care team. They may be able to offer treatments to help alleviate some of the more severe symptoms. These treatments may include medications or complementary therapies.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy can sometimes be utilized to prepare the body for a stem cell transplant or cellular therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy. Depending on the type of cancer and how fast it is growing, chemotherapy may involve a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs.

The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the specific drug or drugs a patient receives. The duration and severity of chemotherapy side effects differ from patient to patient. Most are temporary and will disappear once treatment has ended. The most common side effects of chemotherapy include:

• Hair loss
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Mouth sores
• Low levels of certain blood cells. This can lead to an increased risk of bleeding and infection.
• Cognitive issues, such as memory problems and trouble concentrating. This side effect is often called chemobrain.
• Easy bruising and bleeding
• Appetite changes
• Constipation
• Mouth, tongue and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing
• Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change
• Urine and bladder changes
• Weight changes
• Mood changes
• Changes in libido and sexual function

Many of these side effects can be prevented or treated. While most side effects subside after treatment ends, chemotherapy drugs may also cause side effects that don't develop until months or years after treatment. These side effects can include:

• Damage to lung tissue
• Heart problems
• Infertility
• Kidney problems
• Peripheral neuropathy or other nerve problems, such as numbness, tingling, and pain
• Risk of a second cancer. Fortunately, the benefits of chemotherapy far outweigh the risks.

When to call your cancer care team about side effects

While many side effects are temporary, others may indicate serious problems. Contact your care team if you have any of the following symptoms during chemotherapy treatment:

• A fever higher than what your cancer care team has instructed
• An allergic reaction
• Intense chills
• Pain at your chemotherapy injection site or catheter site
• Long-lasting diarrhea or vomiting
• Blood in your stool or urine

Learn more about chemotherapy.