Three potential side effects
of breast cancer treatments
Cancer is a painful, potentially
life-threatening disease.
Though discomfort might
be the first warning sign that
compels people to visit their physicians
on the road to receiving a cancer
diagnosis, cancer treatments can
produce a host of side effects, including
pain, as well.
According to the Sidney Kimmel
Cancer Center, breast-cancer treatments
can create both long-term side
effects and late side effects.
Long-term side effects are those
that begin during treatment and
continue after all treatments have
stopped, while late side effects refers
to symptoms that can appear weeks,
months, or even years after treatments
have ended.
The list of potential side effects of
breast cancer treatments is lengthy,
but may include the following conditions
or issues:
Fatigue
The nonprofit organization
Breastcancer.org notes that fatigue
is the most common side effect of
breast-cancer treatments, with some
estimates suggesting it affects as
many as 90 percent of all patients.
Some breast-cancer patients may
experience fatigue after treatment
and find it’s worsening because
they are eating less and not getting
enough nutrients.
In such instances, the initial fatigue
may make people too tired
to cook, ultimately contributing to
more fatigue when they are not eating
or eating convenient yet potentially
unhealthy foods.
Cooking healthy foods in bulk
when fatigue is not overwhelming
and accepting others’ offers to cook
is a great way for cancer patients to
ensure their diets are helping them
combat fatigue and not making fatigue
worse.
Lymphedema
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
notes that, following breast-cancer
treatment, some patients may suffer
from lymphedema, a condition
characterized by the accumulation
of lymphatic fluid in the tissues.
Lymphedema most often occurs
in the arms, but can contribute to
swelling in other parts of the body
as well.
Why some people suffer from lymphedema
after treatment and others
don’t is a mystery, though surgeons
at Johns Hopkins Breast Center
have noticed a low occurrence of
According to the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, breast cancer treatments can create both long-term side effects and late side
effects.
lymphedema in patients who have
undergone sentinel node biopsies or
axillary node dissection.
Breast-cancer patients are at risk
of lymphedema for the rest of their
lives after treatment, and while
there’s no way to prevent it, patients
should avoid getting needle sticks or
blood pressure tests in arms where
lymph nodes were removed.
In addition, any injuries or cuts in
arms where lymph nodes were removed
should be treated with vigilance.
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.18 COM | OCT. 9-OCT. 15, 2020
Infertility
Many women will stop menstruating
while undergoing chemotherapy
or after chemo treatments, and that
cessation is often temporary.
These irregularities may
be traced to hormonal therapies
that make the ovaries stop
producing eggs.
However, in some instances,
even premenopausal women may
have trouble getting pregnant
after hormonal therapy.
Breastcancer.org notes that
women whose periods do not
return after treatment may still
be fertile, but also notes that
women who are close to menopause
when beginning chemo
may become permanently infertile.
Women who have been
diagnosed with breast
cancer who are
concerned about
p o s t - t r e atment
infertility should
speak with their
physicians immediately
about their prospects
of getting pregnant
after treatment,
including fertility
treatments
and
the potential
safety risks
of getting
p r e g n a n t
after being
diagnosed with
breast cancer.
Br e a s t - c a nc e r
treatments save lives
every day.
When discussing
treatments with
their physicians,
breast-cancer patients
should ask
questions about
potential short-
and long-term
side effects.
/Breastcancer.org
/Breastcancer.org
