long-term side effects

Long-term side effects (or late effects) are side effects that happen several months or even years after you have finished treatment. They happen because cancer treatments can damage healthy cells as well as cancer cells.

Most teenagers will not have any serious long-term problems.

It depends on the type of cancer and treatment you have and how old you were when you were diagnosed with cancer.

It’s important to remember that the information we have now about long-term side effects is based on people who were treated as children and young adults a long while ago. The treatments that are used now are more highly developed and doctors are now very aware of the importance of avoiding late side effects if possible.

Reading about these late effects might make you feel a bit scared or worried, but remember, most teenagers don’t have serious long-term problems. It’s a good idea to talk about things with your doctors and nurses. They know all about your situation and can talk to you about the follow-up care you will have. This will hopefully pick up any problems or side effects straight away.