Side Effects Of Traditional Cancer Treatments

​Cancer and cancer treatment often cause a variety of side effects. Talk with your doctor about which side effects are likely based on your specific treatment plan. An important part of cancer care is relieving side effects, called symptom management, palliative care, or supportive care. It is important to talk with your health care team about the specific side effects you experience and the best ways to manage and treat them.
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To learn about the symptoms and management of the long-term side effects of cancer and cancer treatment, see Late Effects section.
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To easily track the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.

​ ​Anemia
Appetite Loss
Attention,
Thinking, or Memory Problems
Bleeding Problems
Blocked Intestine or Gastrointestinal Obstruction
Clotting Problems
Constipation
Dehydration
Dental and Oral Health
Diarrhea
Difficulty Chewing
Difficulty Swallowing or Dysphagia
Dry Mouth or Xerostomia
Fluid Retention or Edema
​Fatigue

​Fluid Around the Lungs or Malignant Pleural Effusion
Fluid in the Abdomen or Ascites
Hair Loss or Alopecia
Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia
Headaches
Hormone Deprivation Symptoms: Men
Hypercalcemia
InfectionLymphedema
Menopausal Symptoms in Women
Mental Confusion or Delirium
Mouth Sores or Mucositis
Nausea and Vomiting
Nervous System Side Effects
Neutropenia
Osteoporosis
​Pain: Causes and Diagnosis
Pain: Treating Pain with Medication
​Pain: Additional Ways to Manage Pain
Peripheral Neuropathy
Shortness of Breath or Dyspnea
Skin Conditions
Skin Reactions to Targeted Therapies
Sleeping Problems: Hypersomnia or Somnolence Syndrome or Nightmares
​Sleeping Problems: Insomnia
​Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
​Taste Changes
Thrombocytopenia
​Urinary Incontinence
​Weight Gain
​Weight Loss