Understanding chemotherapy - Macmillan Cancer

Late effects of chemotherapyLate effects of chemotherapyOccasionally, people have late effects of chemotherapy.These are side effects you still have six months afterchemotherapy, or side effects that begin years later.Late effects aren’t common and any risk is outweighedby the benefits of chemotherapy.Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse can explain anypossible late effects of your chemotherapy treatment.Different drugs cause different late effects. Some drugs maycause an early menopause (see pages 71–72) or infertility(see pages 73–75). Other drugs may cause peripheralneuropathy (see pages 59–60), which is permanent insome people.Second cancerSome chemotherapy drugs can increase the risk of developingparticular types of cancer or leukaemia later in life. This is rare,and your doctors will weigh up the small increase in risk of thishappening, against the benefit of the chemotherapy in treatingyour cancer.Effects on the heart or lungsSome chemotherapy drugs may increase the risk of heartor lung problems later in life. Your doctor can give youmore information about this.65