Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatments can cause various side effects while treating the disease, and these effects may differ in each patient. Because chemotherapy attacks rapidly dividing cells, it can cause side effects such as hair loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and an increased risk of infection. Radiotherapy may cause local side effects such as skin redness and tenderness, depending on the area treated. More general side effects such as fatigue and sometimes more specific problems may also occur. Targeted therapies and immunotherapies generally cause less severe side effects than chemotherapy and radiotherapy because they attack more specific cells, but they can have specific side effects such as skin rashes, high blood pressure, and liver problems. Hormone therapy can cause side effects such as hot flashes, bone thinning, and libido changes. Supportive care services are important to support patients' overall health and manage side effects during and after treatment. During the treatment process, it is critical to maintain close communication with doctors and report symptoms at an early stage to manage and alleviate side effects.

Below are articles about treatment side effects according to organ systems. Click on the images below to read.