Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment

When active breast cancer treatment ends, some of its side effects may not go away for some time, and others may occur years later.

Breast cancer treatment is hard on the body. Every part of you may feel drained. Some of the physical side effects may continue to affect you as you heal. Your pace of recovery will depend on the treatments you have received—and how your body has reacted to them. Perhaps you feel that it is time to get back to your normal life and feel frustrated that you can′t get there as quickly as you would like. Try to be patient and give yourself the time you need to heal.

Looking out for your emotional well-being is another key part of your recovery.

Your observations of treatment side effects are an important part of your follow-up care and should be discussed with your health care provider.

Common side effects

• Aches and pains. These are usually a side effect of surgery, chemotherapy or hormone-blocking treatments. They tend to go away on their own, although this may take some time. For example, after chemotherapy a general body ache may last up to a year. Contact your health care provider if you experience any of the following:
  • Any unusual ache or pain that starts gradually and becomes worse after a few weeks
  • Arthritis or arthritic pain that is worse than normal and interferes with your daily activities
  • Any sudden severe pain
• Arm and shoulder problems : These are usually a side effect of surgery to remove axillary lymph nodes or radiation therapy in the axillary (underarm) area. Exercising the affected side after surgery should help to improve upper body mobility and flexibility. Contact your health care provider for a referral to a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or certified lymphedema therapist in these situations:
  • You continue to have problems with arm or shoulder movements within three months of having surgery.
  • You think you may have signs of lymphedema (swelling of the arm)
• Fatigue: An overwhelming sense of tiredness is the most commonly reported side effect of breast cancer treatment. This fatigue is caused by both the physical and emotional effects of treatment. Speak to your health care provider for advice if you continue to feel extreme fatigue that interferes with your daily activities and find that sleep brings no relief.
• Mental fatigue: A lack of clarity, mental fuzziness, forgetfulness and trouble concentrating—these are side effects of chemotherapy, other breast cancer treatments and the stress that often accompanies illness. Just like the rest of your body, the more you "exercise" your brain, the better it will work.
• Breast numbness, tenderness or skin sensitivity: Usually these are the result of surgery and/or radiation therapy. These side effects should go away quite quickly.
• Swelling (edema): Some women feel tightness, aching or cramping in the muscle under the breast, against their rib cage. This is caused by the muscle filling with fluid as part of the healing process. The swelling may go away within a month of treatment, but it may take 2 to 3 years to subside. Gentle exercise may help to relieve the discomfort. Speak to your health care team for advice on exercises or referral to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist.
• Firmness (fibrosis): This side effect may happen months or years after radiation therapy. It is scarring of the breast tissue that makes the breasts feel harder than normal.
• Hair loss and re-growth: Hair loss is a temporary side effect of chemotherapy. How soon your hair grows back will depend on how fast it normally grows. Your scalp may feel tender as your hair re-grows. Your hair may grow back the same as it was before you had chemotherapy, or it may be thinner, thicker, curlier, straighter or a different colour than it was before treatment.
• Dry, gritty, watery, burning or tired eyes: This is usually a side effect of breast cancer medications, for example Tamoxifen. There are many treatments for dry eyes. Speak to your health care provider for advice.
• Signs of menopause: These occur usually because of chemotherapy or ceasing hormone replacement therapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. These side effects include no menstruation, hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.
  • In premenopausal women, treatment-related menopause may be temporary. Your period may return within the first year after treatment or more than 12 months after active treatment has ended.
  • Even if you are showing signs of treatment-related menopause, there is still a chance that you may become pregnant. If you are sexually active with a male partner and do not wish to become pregnant, speak to your health care team about appropriate birth control methods.
  • In some women, treatment causes permanent menopause. Early menopause puts women at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke or osteoporosis, a disease that affects the bones and may cause them to break more easily. Speak to your health care provider about how these risks will be checked as part of your follow-up care.