What are the side effects of cancer treatment?

Side effects are problems that occur when cancer treatment affects healthy tissues or organs—not just the cancer cells. Both cancer treatments and cancer itself can cause them.

There are many possible side effects, and which ones you may have depends on your treatment and your body. Common ones the National Cancer Institute describes include fatigue, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite and weight changes, anemia, infection, constipation and diarrhea, mouth and throat problems, nerve problems, skin and nail changes, and sleep problems.

It's important to know that side effects vary from person to person, even among people receiving the same type of cancer treatment. You might have side effects a friend never had, and the opposite can be true too.

The most helpful thing you can do is speak up. Tell your health care team about any problems you have, so you get the care you need to feel better. Your team can treat many side effects or find ways to reduce them—you don't have to simply "put up with" them. Your team can give you more detail about what to expect from your specific treatment.