Managing blood cancer treatment side effects

Work closely with your doctor and cancer care team to prepare yourself with information about what to expect and how to cope with side effects. For some people, side effects may last well after treatment is completed or may be permanent. For most people, side effects are temporary and go away when the body adjusts to therapy or once treatment ends; however, some patients suffer symptoms that may require hospitalization until they subside. 

Will I experience side effects from my treatment? 

Reactions to treatment vary from patient to patient. Reactions also vary depending on: 

• The treatment and/or types of drugs used
• Drug or radiation dose amounts
• The therapy's length
• Whether you have other health conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease 

Unfortunately, drugs that damage or destroy cancer cells also affect normal cells and may cause certain side effects. However, side effects are not always drug-specific and may be related to something other than medication. While unexpected side effects can occur, most can be predicted because certain drugs are more likely than others to affect specific types of body tissues, such as those that make up the nervous system, kidneys, bladder, heart, and lungs.