Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

Sometimes it’s tough to separate the effect of cancer on your body and how the treatment is affecting you. This isn’t the time to be shy. Let your care team know if anything is bothering you, because they might be able to help. Here are some resources that touch on physical side effects people go through during cancer treatment, but don’t hesitate to call your doctor’s office if you are having a hard time.

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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL) Cancer Information

  • Side Effects
    Source: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
    An important part of your discussion with your specialist is the potential of side effects from your treatment and the drugs and therapies to help manage or prevent them. Prepare yourself for that discussion with this helpful article.
    Read more

More on this topic

  • Nausea and Vomiting
    Source: ChemoExperts
    Management of nausea and vomiting have come a long way since the early days of chemotherapy. This video highlights the many treatment options and explains how prevention is an important first step.
  • Diarrhea
    Source: ChemoExperts
    Diarrhea can cause dehydration and even land you in the hospital. Your healthcare team can manage this side effect, but they need your help. Watch this video to understand the risks and what you can do.
  • Constipation
    Source: ChemoExperts
    Cancer treatment could slow down or throw off your digestion. If your side effects include constipation, this video describes options you can discuss with your doctor.
  • Blood Clots
    Source: ChemoExperts
    Sometimes cancer can cause blood clots, which can lead to serious problems. Medications can protect you—watch this video to know why your doctor wants you to follow through on this critical part of care.
  • Hair Loss
    Source: ChemoExperts
    Although it doesn't happen to everyone or with every type of therapy, you may experience or be concerned about the possibility of hair loss. This video describes strategies for minimizing drug-induced hair loss.
  • Neutropenic Fever
    Source: ChemoExperts
    If infection-fighting white blood cells are low and a fever develops, it's (called) neutropenic fever—and it's an urgent medical condition. This video explains when to seek help.
  • How to Cope With Common Cancer Treatment Side Effects
    Author: Julie Revelant
    Side effects can be an uncomfortable part of treating cancer and can vary depending on the length and type of treatment you undergo. This article discusses how to cope with cancer treatment side effects in a healthy, open way with one’s cancer treatment team.
    Read more
  • Sleeping Well During Treatment
    Author: Sarah Handzel, BSN, RN
    When you think of cancer side effects, you may think of more well-known problems, like fatigue, pain, or depression. But one common cancer side effect — sleep disturbance, or insomnia — affects as many as 60% of people living with cancer or undergoing cancer treatment. This article provides tips on how to sleep well during treatment.
    Read more
  • Managing Weight Fluctuation During Cancer Treatment
    Author: Lucy Maher
    Weight changes are an often unexpected side effect of receiving cancer treatment. Here, we offer tips to help you manage your weight in a healthy way.
    Read more
  • Managing Your Diet & Nutrition During Cancer Treatment
    Author: Julie Revelant
    When you have cancer, a healthy diet is important to help you stay strong, fight infection, and heal. Here are 6 common dietary side effects of cancer treatments and strategies to help manage these concerns.
    Read more
  • Managing Stress
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    Stress and anxiety go hand-in-hand with a cancer diagnosis. Typically, people approach problems in 1 of 2 ways: actively working on them, or avoiding them. In general, active coping works better and is healthier.
    Read more
  • Cognitive Changes: Chemo-Brain
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    Cognitive changes are problems with thinking—including memory, concentration, and behavior. Not everyone who has chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery develops cognitive problems.
    Read more
  • Managing Pain
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    Treatment for cancer—surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies—can cause pain and discomfort. If you begin experiencing new pain or severe pain, it is important that you tell your doctor immediately.
    Read more
  • Palliative Care: What You Need to Know
    Source: CancerCare
    Palliative care (pronounced PAL-lee-uh-tiv) is medical care for people with serious illnesses. The goal is to relieve symptoms, pain, and stress in an effort to improve quality of life.
    Read more
  • ‪Coping With Chemo-Brain: Keeping Your Memory Sharp
    Source: CancerCare
    Many people going through cancer treatment notice changes in their memory and thinking abilities. Coping with symptoms of chemo-brain involves finding ways to help you remember things better.
    Read more

Cancer.com collects information from respected sources and is not responsible for the creation of content, except as noted. The original source has granted permission to share this information on Cancer.com in an effort to provide you with the best information possible.

Additional Links

  • Preparing for Your Doctor's Visit (CLL)
    Source: Cancer Support Community​
    Having conversations about chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can be challenging. Review a discussion guide for CLL patients to help facilitate conversation with your healthcare team.
  • Recipe Gallery During Cancer Treatment
    Source: Cancer Support Community​
    A healthy diet is an important part of any cancer patient’s journey. Explore an abundance of recipes for cancer patients that may help prevent weight loss, lack of appetite, and more.
  • Supportive Care for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
    Source: American Cancer Society​
    Learn the different ways supportive care therapies may help with the effects of CLL and its treatments, such as infections and abnormal blood counts.
  • Chemotherapy Side Effects Worksheet
    Source: American Cancer Society
    Download a worksheet to help you record and keep track of any side effects you are having related to your treatment.
  • External Radiation Side Effects Worksheet
    Source: American Cancer Society
    Download a worksheet to help you record and keep track of any side effects you are having, so your cancer care team can help you manage them.
  • Daily Pain Diary
    Source: American Cancer Society
    Download a worksheet with information to help you keep track of any pain you may be having to help you manage it.
  • Managing Side Effects
    Source: Cancer Support Community
    Know what kinds of side effects to expect and how to cope with them. Being well informed can help you and your healthcare team to create a plan to manage, or even prevent, some side effects of cancer treatment.
  • ‪Feelings and Cancer
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    Just as cancer affects your physical health, it can bring up a wide range of feelings you’re not used to dealing with. Learn more about some of the common feelings associated with cancer, and what you can do to manage them.
  • Pain Control
    Source: National Cancer Institute
    Download a guide about cancer-related pain that covers what you need to know, questions to ask, and how it’s treated.
  • ‪Understanding and Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
    Source: CancerCare
    Your body’s reaction to chemotherapy depends on a number of things, such as the length of treatment, the dosage prescribed, and your personal health history. Learn more about how to better control side effects from chemotherapy, and tips to communicate with your healthcare team.

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