Effects and side effects of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs damage fast-growing cells. As well as destroying cancer cells, they also cause damage to normal cells. It is this damage to normal cells that may cause side effects.
The side effects you experience will depend on the type of chemotherapy you are given. Side effects can occur during and immediately after treatment, or they may develop after treatment has been going on for some time and may continue, at least for a while, after treatment is finished.
Everyone reacts differently to chemotherapy and some people may have no side effects at all. The side effects you may experience will be discussed with you before your treatment begins.
Your hospital can offer help for most side effects, so please tell your doctor or nurse if you feel any different from normal.
Remember: most of the side effects of chemotherapy are temporary and will disappear after your treatment has finished.
Urgent side effects
There are some side effects that need to be treated quickly and it is important that you do not wait until the next morning or after the weekend. If you are unsure as to whether your symptoms need urgent treatment, contact the hospital or your GP for telephone advice.
You must contact your hospital team or GP immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- a temperature of 38°C / 100°F or higher
- shivering episodes
- flu-like symptoms
- gum or nose bleeds or unusual bleeding (if bleeding doesn’t stop after ten minutes of pressure)
- mouth ulcers that stop you eating or drinking
- vomiting (that continues in spite of taking anti-sickness medication)
- diarrhoea (four or more bowel movements more than usual or diarrhoea at night)
- difficulty with breathing.
You may be given a card similar to the one shown to carry around with you. The card lists the symptoms needing urgent treatment, and tells you and a health professional what to do.
| Effects on everyday activities |
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| Common side effects |
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| Less common side effects |
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| Long-term risks |
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