18 Long-Term Chemo Side Effects You Never Hear About
The first chemotherapy (chemo) agents appeared in the first world wars and were used as mustard gases to kill soldiers. (1) Since then, cancer patients from all over the world have opted to use chemo as part of their cancer treatment plan. Cancer cells grow faster than healthy cells. Chemo destroys these fast-growing cells and helps to keep them from becoming back. Chemo drugs can’t tell the difference, and they also kill healthy cells, causing many different side effects during treatment. (4,5) Different treatments can cause many kinds of side effects that can happen during chemo or immediately after, such as: Fatigue Pain Headaches Mouth sores Metal taste in your mouth Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Constipation Flatulence Anemia Leukopenia (raising the risk of infection) Dizziness Neuropathy Vertigo Cognition issues aka “Chemo Brain” Sexual dysfunction Fertility issues Weight gain Weight loss Hair loss. For me, some of the worst side effects I experie...