Understanding the Late Effects of Cancer and Its Treatment
More people are surviving cancer than ever before. According to the American Cancer Society, almost 9 million Americans have a history of cancer, many of whom are survivors of childhood cancers. Over half of the people diagnosed with cancer are alive five years later, many of them cured. By 2010, it is estimated that one in every 250 adults will be an adult survivor of a childhood cancer. As more and more people survive longer, we are seeing new problems develop from the cancer or its treatment. These problems are called late effects.
What Causes Late Effects?
Doctors are trying to figure out why people have late effects, who might be more at risk for getting them, and what can be done to prevent or manage them. Late effects may include physical problems, psychological effects, a second cancer, and other problems. Late effects can depend on:
-
The type of cancer you had
-
How old you were when you were diagnosed and treated
-
The type of treatment you received
Having cancer does not mean that you will definitely have late effects, but you should ask about your healthcare team about your risks of getting late effects, what you can do to prevent them, and how to manage them.
Physical Problems
Physical problems often depend on the type of treatment or cancer that a person had. Any part or function of the body can be affected. Some people develop problems with their bones, muscles, hearing, breathing, stomach, kidneys, bladder, blood, and bone marrow. Other people may have hormonal problems, causing growth and puberty problems in children and premature menopause, infertility, and sexual problems in adults. Some people have only one problem while others may have more than one. It is not known why this happens to some people and not to others.
Following is a short list of some treatments and common late effects. Please remember that this list is not complete and you should discuss your situation with your doctor or nurse.
-
Radiation. The late effects of radiation depend on what part of the body was treated and how much radiation was given. For example, if the head was treated with radiation, possible late effects can include cataracts and dental problems. If the abdomen or pelvic area was treated, bowel or bladder problems could develop.
-
Surgery. The late effects of surgery also depend on what part of the body was operated on and what was done. If you have lymph node surgery, then you may develop swelling of the arm or leg (lymphedema). If you had abdominal surgery, scar tissue can sometimes cause bowel problems.
Psychological Problems
Learning disabilities. Some cancers and their treatments can cause learning disabilities, which can affect how someone learns and remembers things. For example, many people who are treated for brain tumors often need cognitive rehabilitation to train them how to remember and learn things. Our exclusive feature article, "Coping with the Cognitive Effects of the Brain," offers more information on this topic. Researchers are also studying a phenomenon called "chemo-brain," which happens when attention, memory, and other cognitive functions are affected after someone has chemotherapy. Our exclusive feature article, "The ‘Chemo-Brain' Phenomenon," offers more information on the research being done in this area.
Emotional problems. Worrying about the cancer returning or having tests is a normal fear. However, when the worry or fear takes over your life, then you may need help. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are two effects of the cancer and its treatment. You may also be depressed because of problems caused by late effects. For example, if your cancer or treatment caused you to be infertile or sterile, then you may be depressed about your inability to have children. Depression is a serious illness. If you are depressed, you may:
-
Focus on the bad things
-
Not enjoy life
-
Feel that life is not worth living
-
Feel that you are a burden
-
Feel that you don't deserve any help
-
Not have energy
-
Stay away from friends and family
Some cancer survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder, which means that they are having a hard time adjusting to having cancer or to surviving cancer. If you have post-traumatic stress disorder, you may:
-
Have dreams or flashbacks about your cancer or treatment
-
Feel very scared, angry, or upset if you are reminded of your illness or treatment
-
Not remember things
-
Avoid your loved ones and friends
-
Have trouble sleeping
-
Have trouble concentrating
If you think that you have depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, it's important to talk about how you feel. You may need to learn new ways to cope with your feelings and how to relax. Your healthcare team may be able to recommend a counselor for you to talk to or prescribe an anti-depressant.
Second Cancers
Developing a second cancer is rare, but it can happen. You could get a second cancer from the treatment you received to cure your first cancer. Also, cancer runs in some families who may be prone to getting more than one cancer. And, if you do things that would increase your risk of getting cancer, such as smoking, you could also get another cancer. You can ask your doctor what cancers you might be at higher risk for getting and what you can do to either prevent them or find them early.
Resources
It's important to talk to your doctor or nurse about late effects. He or she can tell you which problems you could be at risk for, what you can do to prevent them, and how to manage them if they occur. Remember though, most cancer survivors do not develop any late effects. See your doctor every year for a check-up. Ask if there are programs for cancer survivors. And, remember that if you feel worried or depressed or are having a hard time coping, you should talk to someone.
In "The enduring seasons in survival," Karen Hassey Dow, an oncology nurse who has studied the quality of life of cancer survivors, writes, "Getting well does not mean getting back to normal, because lives can be radically changed by cancer… Surviving is not a static concept, but one that is changing as individuals adjust to the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects of their lives after illness." Living with cancer is very hard. Sometimes surviving it can be hard too. There is help.
References:
Harpham, W. (1995). After Cancer: A guide to your new life. NY, NY: Harper Perennial.
Hassey Dow, K. The enduring seasons in survival. Oncology Nursing Forum, 17:511-516,1990.
Hoffman, B. (1996) A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac: Charting Your Journey. Minneapolis, MN: Chronimed Publ.
Keene, N., Hobbie, W., Ruccione, K. (2000). Childhood Cancer Survivors. Sabastopol, CA: O’Reilly.