Coping with side-effects of cancer treatment
Tips on managing symptoms and side-effects during and after cancer treatment
Cancer and cancer treatments can cause a range of side-effects. They can happen:
- During treatment
- A short time after treatment has ended
- Some time after treatment - we have more information about coping with late side-effects
Track and report any side-effects
It’s very important to be aware of any changes and let your medical team know about them, even if they happen some time after treatment. There are treatments to help with most side-effects.
Even if a symptom is not troubling you too much, it’s still best to let your medical team know how you’re feeling, as it may be a symptom of something else. For example, fatigue may be a sign that your red blood cell count is low or that your treatment is affecting your hormone levels. If this is the case, you can have treatment to help you feel better.
Keeping track of side-effects: Keep a diary or use a mobile phone app to note how you’re feeling. You can ask your consultant or specialist nurse about this.
Types of side-effects
If you want to know more about side-effects and get tips on things you can do to feel better, please choose from the list below:
Anaemia
Side effect from cancer treatment where the number of red blood cells is lower than it should be.
Anxiety and depression
Information about coping with anxiety and depression following a cancer diagnosis.
Bleeding and bruising
Information about bleeding and bruising as a side effect of cancer treatment.
Blood clots
Advice and information blood clots as a cancer treatment side-effect.
Bone pain and weakened bones
Information about bone pain caused by cancer treatment and how to cope.
Breathlessness
Information about feeling like you can't breathe normally after cancer treatment and how to cope.
Caring for your stoma
Information about stomas (illeostomy, colostomy, urostomy) and how to care for them.
Constipation and diarrhoea
Information about coping with constipation (finding it hard to poo) and diarrhoea (frequent watery poos).
Eating problems and weight loss
Information on coping with eating-related side-effects such as weight loss, sore mouth, dry mouth, taste changes and swallowing difficulties.
Fatigue
Coping with feeling extremely tired following cancer treatment.
Fertility and cancer treatment
Information about fertility and cancer treatment.
Hair loss (alopecia)
Information and tips about losing your hair during cancer treatment.
High blood calcium (hypercalcaemia)
Information on high blood calcium (hypercalcaemia).
Increased risk of infection
Information about being more susceptible to infection after your cancer treatment and what to do about it.
Lymphoedema
Tips on swelling in your arms and legs that can happen during or after cancer treatment.
Managing menopausal symptoms
Tips on managing menopause symptoms during or after cancer treatment.
Mouth problems
Information on coping with side-effects that affect your mouth
Sickness (nausea and vomiting)
Tips on coping with feeling sick (nausea) and getting sick (vomiting)
Nerve changes (peripheral neuropathy)
Information about coping with nerve damage in your hands and feet after cancer treatment.
Neutropenia (low white blood counts)
Information about coping with a low white blood cell count which could lead to infection.
Pain
Information on coping with pain during cancer treatment.
Sexual side-effects of cancer treatment
Information on how cancer treatment impacts your sex life and how to cope.
Skin and nail changes
Coping with skin and nail changes from cancer treatment like itchy or flaky skin, brittle nails.
Sleep problems
Coping with difficulty falling asleep after cancer treatment.
Urinary problems
Information about urinary issues after cancer treatment.
Managing side-effects after treatment
Information on side-effects that may carry on or appear after treatment.
Other side effects
- Ascites. Swollen tummy caused by a build-up of fluid.
- Endocrine (hormone) problems.
- Kidney changes and fluid retention (swelling - oedema).
- Cachexia. Severe weight loss.
- Spinal cord compression
Cancer treatment side-effect resources
Downloadable booklets and leaflets
Reducing your risk of arm and leg lymphoedema factsheet
This factsheet is written to help you learn about lymphoedema and how to reduce your risk of getting lymphoedema during and after cancer treatment.
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