Chemotherapy is the main
treatment in treating cancer. But, the effect of chemotherapy can have a
long-term impact on health even after you are declared cured of cancer.
The side effects of
chemotherapy not only appear when you are undergoing treatment, but also can
appear after treatment is complete. Even side effects can appear for years
after treatment is complete.
So, what are the long-term side effects of this chemotherapy treatment?
So, what are the long-term side effects of this chemotherapy treatment?
Various effects of
chemotherapy that may occur after treatment is complete
Chemotherapy drugs,
including hard drugs, work quickly to kill cancer cells in the body. Because
the target is cells, it does not rule out the possibility that the effects of
chemo drugs can also attack healthy body cells.
Below are the long-term
side effects that cancer survivors may experience after going through cancer
treatment.
- It is difficult to think because cognitive abilities decrease
- Lung capacity is reduced, causing respiratory problems
- Heart function disorders such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure
- Disorders of kidney function such as kidney failure
- Early menopause
- Decreased hearing ability
- Experiencing decreased sensitivity to taste on the tongue
- Risk of infertility, for men and women
- Experiencing various dental and oral health problems, tooth decay
Almost all chemotherapy
drugs have long-term side effects, here are some examples of chemotherapy drugs
and their effects on the body:
- Steroids can cause cataracts
- Anthacyclines can cause cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure
- Cisplatin, Methotrexate, and Nitrosoureas may affect kidney health
- Cyclophosphamide is at risk of causing urinary disorders such as bladder inflammation
Long-term side effects of chemotherapy treatment in children
In children undergoing
chemotherapy, the actual side effects experienced are almost the same as the
long-term side effects experienced by adults. However, in some cases the
long-term effects on children are more serious than adults.
Because the child's body
is still in its infancy, where the body's cells are active to maximize growth
and development.
So it is not uncommon, there will be more side effects experienced by survivors of child cancer.
So it is not uncommon, there will be more side effects experienced by survivors of child cancer.
Some side effects that
may be experienced by child cancer survivors are:
- Cataracts
- Obesity
- Liver disfunction
- Nerve damage
- Growth disorders that cause children to have short bodies
- Impaired pulmonary function may make the child difficult to breathe normally
- Bone health problems such as osteoporosis at a young age and joint pain
Can long-term side effects due to chemotherapy be prevented?
Unfortunately, until now
there has been no way to prevent the effects of chemotherapy that are long-term.
The reason is that there are certain normal cells that are damaged when the
treatment is done and it is possible that this will affect the health of the
survivors in the future.
However, this is not something that is certain to happen. In some cases, no long-term side effects were found in cancer survivors.
However, this is not something that is certain to happen. In some cases, no long-term side effects were found in cancer survivors.
Even so, it cannot be denied that people who have had cancer have a greater risk of experiencing all these health problems than healthy people. Therefore, the thing that can be done is to carry out routine checks even after the treatment has finished. Routine checks are carried out to detect early on if you experience side effects from treatment.
In addition, living a
healthy lifestyle, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and
leaving bad habits that can interfere with health are things you can do to
reduce the risk of long-term side effects.
Read too :
How to Overcome Appetite Declines After Chemotherapy
Can Acupuncture Relieve Pain in Cancer Patients?
Can Acupuncture Relieve Pain in Cancer Patients?
